January 2013 - Costa Calida Chronicle

Costa 

The Longest Established 

FREE Magazine 

in Murcia 

Cálida 

Chronicle 

www.costacalidachronicle.com 

Date: January 2013 Issue: 2 Volume: XIII 

In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com 

Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the Costa Cálida Chronicle 

Sales Contact Teresa 619 199 407 or for the Editor Contact Patti 646 005 017 

www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com 

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www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com





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SPECIAL PAGES 

Mar Menor 64-69 

Mazarrón 28-34 

Northwest Murcia 12-16 

Sport 90-94 

What’s On 84-88 

ADVERTORIAL 

A Time 4 A Change 67 

Ibex 10 

Jane’s Salon 46 

Linea Directa 22 

Mark Phoenix 72 

Puncture Safe 70 

Sit 2B Fit 89 

Yorkshire Linen 8 

CHARITIES 

Age Concern 28 

Andrea’s Animal Charity25 

Easy Horse Care 68 

GO maD 46 

Helping Hands 83 

JJ Puppies 44 

John Kemp 43 

Lions 31 

MABS Mar Menor 68 

MAMAS 79 

Noah’s ARC 50 

PALS 30 

Pets In Spain 59 

CHILDREN 

Chatterbox 82 

The Little One 13 

EDUCATION 

Jane Cronin’s Spanish 36 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Aguilas Carnaval 89 

Classic Artistes 18 

Costa Cálida Music Club43 

Los Canavos Players 31 

The Nutcracker 88 

FOOD & DRINK 

Food for Thought 76 

Herb of the Month 76 

Ma Millbank 46 

Mazarrón Pudding Club 28 

Wine of the Month 26 

GROUPS 

ADAPT 66 

Darwinians 55 

Ex-Servicemen 29 

Evolutionists 8 

HAH Help at Home 64 

Ladies’ Chatterbox 34 

Los Palacios 31 

Welcome 10 

HEALTH & BEAUTY 

FAST 28 

The Common Cold 56 

INFORMATION 

Advertiser’s Directory 100/101 

Animal Matters 74 

Ask Jennifer 70 

British Consul 38 

British Embassy 25+52 

Burns’ Night 6 

Business News 58 

Calasparra and Caves 14 

Classified Ads 96 

CRA 31 

Charities etc 63 

Dates to Remember 18 

Dear Editor 61 

Distribution Points 98 

Fiesta Camposol 30 

Gas Men 7 

Georgina’s Story 40 

Hondon RBL 66 

Horoscopes 62 

Mazarrón News 32/33 

Northwest Murcia 15 

Orihuela RBL 42 

Pedro Cano 12 

Price List etc 102 

Spanish News 60 

Subscriptions 98 

Teresa’s Travels 75 

LEISURE 

Author Review 54 

Gardening News 24 

Hiking in Moratalla 15 

NEST 80 

Puzzle Page 78 

Puzzle Solutions 102 

TV News 42 

WARM 12 

PROPERTY 

Housing Update 97 

RELIGION 

Beacon of Light 49 

Mass in English 80 

New Life Church 66 

Olive Branch 26 

Open Door 72 

Puerto Lumbreras 55 

St Nicholas Church 56 

Welcome House 13 

Wellspring Victory Church 

44 

SPORT 

Golf Tips 93 

La Manga Cricket 91 

Lo Romero Golf 90 

Los Amigos Mazarrón 94 

RC Sailing 92 

SAMM 93 

Soccer School 90 

Trevi Golf 92 

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email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com

We all hope that you our readers have 

had a good Christmas and even better 

New Year! Let us hope that 2013 is a 

good one and that there will be good 

news in the area with the progress of the 

Paramount Theme Park and possibly the 

opening of the new airport at Corvera. 

We would like to thank the following 

people for their regular articles 

throughout the year: 

Jane Cronin – Spanish 

Rainbow Satellites – TV News 

Mark Davies – Classic Artistes 

Dick & Clodagh – Gardening 

Sara Millbank – Ma Millbank 

David Gay – Golf Tips 

Clive Palmer – Exploring Murcia 

Phil Jones – Monthly Quiz 

Jennie Iredale – Housing Update 

Liz Edmiston – Food for Thought 

Talk Spanish – Spanish News 

The Robertson Children – Childrens’ 

Chatterbox 

Santi Leo – Cehegin Scene 

Freya – Horoscopes 

Paco Vet – Animal Matters 

Jennifer – Ask Jennifer 

We would also like to thank those 

readers who have taken time to send 

in letters, stories or articles during the 

year. We always try to print these, as 

there are always new places to visit in 

the area and events to go to that may 

not have been advertised. These all add 

to the magazine and make the Costa 

Cálida Chronicle the largest free and 

probably the best loved magazine in 

the area. We are still happy to help the 

charities and organizations by printing 

their reports free for them each month, 

but of course without our advertisers, 

none of this would be possible, so a 

special thank you to them. 

New advertisers: 

Restaurante La Terraza 

Enjoy your Leisure 

Nigel Birchill as Elvis 

Rentalia Invest 

Welcome Back: 

Yoga & Pilates 

Crystal Designs 

Petro Alhama 

Beauty Essentials 

Happy New Year from all of 

us at the Chronicle 

If you are wondering what to do with 

all your old Christmas cards, there are 

collection points for recycling greeting 

cards at the Post Office and Best Wishes 

on Camposol Sector B and Noah’s ARC 

Charity Shop, Puerto de Mazarrón. 





email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com 

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Burns’ Night 25 th January 

Burns’ Night is now celebrated all over 

the world on or around January 25. It commemorates 

the life of the bard (poet) Robert 

Burns, who was born on January 25 th 

1759 and died on July 21 st 1796. He wrote 

numerous poems and lyrics that addressed 

political and civil issues. He is regarded as 

a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and 

after his death he became a great source 

of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism 

and socialism, and a cultural icon 

in Scotland. Burns’ birthplace in Alloway 

is now a public museum known as Burns’ 

Cottage. His house in Dumfries is operated 

as the Robert Burns’ House, and 

the Robert Burns’ Centre in Dumfries 

features more exhibits about his life and 

works. Ellisland Farm in Auldgirth, which 

he owned from 1788 to 1791, is maintained 

as a working farm with a museum 

and interpretation centre by the Friends 

of Ellisland Farm. 

The day also celebrates Burns’ contribution 

to Scottish culture. Burns’ best 

known work is “Auld Lang Syne” which 

is also sung at Hogmanay. 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 

And never brought to mind? 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 

And auld lang syne? 

CHORUS: 

For auld lang syne, my jo, 

For auld lang syne, 

We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, 

For auld lang syne. 

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp! 

And surely I’ll be mine! 

And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, 


CHORUS 

We twa hae run about the braes, 

and pu’d the gowans fine; 

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, 

Sin auld lang syne. 

CHORUS 

We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn, 

Frae morning sun till dine; 

But seas between us braid hae roar’d 

Sin auld lang syne. 

CHORUS 

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere! 

And gie’s a hand o’ thine! 

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, 


CHORUS 

Many bars and restaurants hold a Burns’ 

Supper which traditionally includes cocka-leekie 

soup (chicken and leek soup); 

haggis; neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) 

and tatties (mashed potatoes); cranachan 

(whipped cream mixed with raspberries 

and served with sweet oat wafers); and 

bannocks (a kind of bread cooked on a 

griddle). Whisky is the traditional drink. 

These events may be informal or formal 

and many of them include toasts and readings 

of pieces written by Robert Burns. 

The evening usually centres around the 

entrance of the haggis (a type of sausage 

prepared in a sheep’s stomach) on a large 

platter to the sound of a piper playing bagpipes. 

When the haggis is on the table, the 

host reads the “Address to a Haggis”. 

This is an ode that Robert Burns wrote to 

the Scottish dish. At the end of the reading, 

the haggis is ceremonially sliced into 

two pieces and the meal begins. 

At Burns’ Night events, many men wear 

kilts and women may wear shawls, skirts 

or dresses made from their family tartan. 

A tartan was originally a woollen cloth with 

a distinctive pattern made by using colours 

of weft and warp when weaving. Particular 

patterns and combinations of colours were 

associated with different areas, clans and 

families. Tartan patterns are now printed 

on various materials. 

The Scottish flag is often displayed at 

Burns’ Night celebrations. It is known as 

the Saltire and consists of a rectangular 

blue background with thick white bars on 

the diagonals. The diagonals form a cross 

that represents Saint Andrew, the patron 

saint of Scotland. 

Local Bar and Restaurants Celebrating 

Burns’ Night include: 

In 1996, a musical about Burns’ life called 

Red Red Rose won third place at a competition 

for new musicals in Denmark. 

Robert Burns was played by John Barrowman. 

My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose 

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose 

That’s newly sprung in June; 

O my Luve’s like the melodie 

That’s sweetly play’d in tune. 

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, 

So deep in luve am I: 

And I will luve thee still, my dear, 

Till a’ the seas gang dry: 

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, 

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun: 

I will luve thee still, my dear, 

While the sands o’ life shall run. 

And fare thee well, my only Luve 

And fare thee well, a while! 

And I will come again, my Luve, 

Tho’ it were ten thousand mile. 

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Over the last 12-18 months more and more 

householders have complained about ‘Bogus’ 

gas service maintenance men, how much they 

charge and whether they are legal or not. 

Costa Cálida International Radio have 

constantly put out warnings about these gas 

men; where they are (many thanks to the 

listeners, who advise us, to advise you) and 

what to do about them. We do appreciate that 

not everybody listens to the radio, or may 

not have heard the warnings. With this in 

mind, we have undertaken to try to get the 

correct information from Repsol regarding this 

problem, so below is a quick resume about 

our findings and hopefully with this advice to 

hand it will stop anybody else being ‘conned’ 

by these so-called gas men. We have heard 

stories that householders have been charged 

over €200 for approx 1 hours work, and have 

been escorted to the bank to get the money 

to pay the bill. 

who should be able check it for you, albeit for 

a small cost. 

We sincerely hope that the above will help 

everybody to be aware and use common 

sense. If your neighbour is a holiday-maker, 

please warn them about what might happen 

if these men call, or get another copy of the 

Chronicle and tag this page leaving it where 

your neighbour can find it. 

The first thing all householders need to know 

is that Repsol do not do ‘cold calling’. They 

operate an appointment-only system, so if 

these ‘service engineers’ knock at your door, 

without an appointment, they do not work 

for Repsol. They may well work for another 

service company that is permitted to service 

gas appliances, to use the Repsol logo, and be 

a completely legal and registered company, 

but do not work for Repsol, and as such are 

only trying to earn a living, not a crime. 

With this information in hand, ask for 

identification and bear in mind, once you have 

allowed them into your property, it is your 

responsibility to make sure that what they 

are purporting to do to your gas appliances, is 

with your agreement and to your satisfaction. 

Once they tell you what they are intending 

to do, always ask how much it is going to 

cost. If possible get the estimate on an official 

piece of paper, not a scrap from the drawer. 

If they refuse this simple action, very politely 

ask them to leave, and come back later with 

the right paperwork. Always try to avoid 

any confrontations. If you then give them 

permission to do the repairs etc, it is your 

responsibility to pay the bill/factura and as 

such you have no recourse for complaints. If 

they do work for Repsol the factura will be on 

official Repsol headed paper. 

Please remember that gas hoses and 

regulators have a shelf-life and as such 

should be checked and changed regularly. 

The orange gas hose should have a date on 

it. That date indicates when it should be 

checked and changed if necessary. If used 

outside on BBQ’s, they will deteriorate quicker 

than hoses in the house on heaters and water 

appliances. 

A competent DIYer should be capable of 

changing hose, clips and regulator on an 

outdoor BBQ in approx 30-45 minutes. 

Costs at the Repsol offices in Puerto de 

Mazarron using official Repsol products are as 

follows: 

Regulator €10-15 

Hose is approx €1.50 per metre (prices may 

vary in a DIY shop or ferreteria). 

If you are unsure, whether it is fitted correctly, 

please contact a certified plumber or gas-fitter 





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The Yorkshire Linen Co, Mazarrón – Now 

Even Bigger, Brighter and Better! 

on value. Customers will find even more 

choice of products with new ranges such as 

dried flowers and vases, ornaments, pictures, 

candles, lampshades and rugs.” 

The Yorkshire Linen Company’s success is 

built on the ‘customer being king’ and they 

take great pride in providing outstanding 

products backed by an extremely high 

standard of customer care. Their motto of 

‘expect more, pay less’ encapsulates their 

whole philosophy. 

One of the area’s most popular stores, The 

Yorkshire Linen Co, has now expanded 

to give its customers even more choice and 

space. Extending into the unit next door has 

increased the floor space to over 200 square 

metres. Peter and Karen, who own the 

business, said “We had outgrown the existing 

shop and really needed more space. We 

decided to invest in the business due to the 

growing demand for specialist soft furnishings 

products. By listening to our customers, 

we think we know exactly what they want 

in terms of stock on the shelves, plus the 

environment they prefer to shop in. We 

are in our eighth year of business and have 

gained an envious reputation for providing 

customers with a wide range of home textiles 

and decorative accessories for every room 

in the house, at fantastic prices. We can 

now offer our customers a greater range of 

home furnishings with the emphasis firmly 

A real success story, The Yorkshire Linen 

Company is an established and influential 

retail operator in the UK and has more than 

40 stores and employs over 300 staff. There 

are now 9 stores in Spain and Portugal. As 

franchisees, this allows Peter and Karen 

to pass on great choice and value to their 

customers. With regular deliveries from 

the UK and other suppliers in Spain and 

Germany, a lot of the collections are unique 

to The Yorkshire Linen Co and customers 

know that they can buy something a bit 

different for their homes. This, alongside 

their excellent level of service and advice, has 

seen the business grow into one of the most 

popular shops in the area. Many customers 

have become friends and lots of people pop 

in regularly to see what is new and pick up 

the papers, the Chronicle or just for a chat 

or a sweet! Peter, Karen and their staff look 

forward to serving you in 2013 and would like 

to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and 

peaceful New Year. 

Yorkshire Linen is open Monday–Friday 

10am-6pm & Saturday 10am–2pm. 

Parking is easy above the Mercadona at the 

commercial centre in Puerto de Mazarrón, 

opposite Lidl. 

For more information call 968 595 946 or 

650 857 619. 

See the latest collections on the NEW 

website at www.yorkshirelinen.com 


The Evolutionists of Almeria and Murcia. 

Two organised walks took place on November 

18 th , both in the San Juan de los Terreros area. 

One walk planned for the less serious walkers 

attracted 11 participants and proceeded 

along the Paseo to the coastal village of Pozo 

del Esparto, lasting about 2.5 hours along flat 

terrain. 

The main walk had 23 participants and 

commenced at the village of Los Lobos (where 

we were dismayed by the extensive damage 

from the recent storm), and proceeded up the 

seemingly endless slopes of Mt Tenerife. The 

extensive, derelict mine workings, going back 

120 years, at one time employed upwards of 

12,000 men and offered us a fascinating insight 

into the deprivations and industry of previous 

generations. We rested a while noting a huge 

toothed wheel with its two massive boilers, 

(made in Reading Berks!), and now ripe for 

renovation. After 2.5 hours of a strenuous 

uphill pull, we reached the high ridge and 

were rewarded with magnificent sunlit views 

along the coast and inland. The group then 

repaired downhill to a restaurant in San Juan 

de los Terreros for a rest and well-earned 

refreshment. There were 35 diners in all 

and the conviviality continued all afternoon. 

The Evolutionists enjoyed a lovely walk on 

Saturday 15th December in perfect, mild 

weather. With 11 people in the group, Joan 

and Jon Thompson led us from Bolnuevo 

Paseo across the slopes of the Moreras. After 

our 3 hour excursion, Rincon Elias provided an 

excellent menu and a convivial atmosphere. 

Our next walk is in the New Year, on January 

19th in the Aguilas area. Everyone is 

welcome to take part in our walks which are 

outlined on our website at bolnuevo.com/ 

evolutionists. 

Following the AGM at which Richard Ward 

was re-elected Chairman and John Blakey 

Secretary/Treasurer, the group was treated 

by Martin Rushton to a learned summary of 

the work of the Hadron Collider in Switzerland 

which he had visited recently. There, scientists 

are searching for the Higgs Boson by setting 

up ‘speed of light’ collisions using different 

sub-atomic particles. This is to replicate the 

conditions which occurred at the time of the 

Big Bang. 

If the Higgs Particle can be definitely 

identified, the Standard Model of particle 

physics and the creation of the Universe can 

be finally verified as it is now believed to 

react with other particles to convert energy 

into mass. If so it would therefore explain 

how all the immense energy at the birth of 

the Universe 13.7 billion years ago has been 

transformed into galaxies, planets, dust, 

gas and every physical object in existence 

(including ourselves). 

The importance of this work will open up new 

avenues of research and finally does away 

with the notion that it is the ‘God Particle’. 

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No-Claims Discount/Bonus Protection 

Everyone is looking for opportunities to reduce 

their insurance costs at the moment. 

Most people know that one of the key things 

that help to keep the cost down is your noclaims 

bonus on your car insurance. This is 

a discount applied to the base rate based on 

the number of years you have held insurance 

without making a claim. If you make a claim, 

your no-claims bonus is reduced, causing 

your insurance premium to rise at renewal. 

Insurance claims are settled on a fault or nonfault 

basis. To clarify this, if you cannot claim 

from a third party to recoup your losses, in 

insurance terms this is a fault claim. To give 

a few examples; 

If your car is stolen, you cannot claim from 

anyone else, so this is classed as a fault and 

you lose no claims bonus. 

If someone hits your vehicle in a car park 

and drives off without leaving details and the 

vehicle needs repairing, then again this is 

classed as a fault claim. 

This can seem unfair, as obviously it is not 

your fault that someone decided to steal your 

car or damage it whilst you are not in it, but 

you have to suffer at renewal time. 

Ibex Insurance now offer the opportunity 

to protect your no claims bonus. This means 

that in the event of a claim, regardless of 

blame, your no-claims bonus remains intact. 

The Ibex Protected No-Claims Bonus allows 

up to two fault claims in any three year 

period. Not every insurer in Spain offers this 

and we recommend that you check your policy 

documents to see if you have this valuable 

cover. If you do not have this it may be worth 

contacting us at renewal time to add this to 

your policy. 

Contact Kelly and Wendy for further information 

and a quote. 

C.C. Upper Local 2, Avda Doctor Meca S/N, 

30860 Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia 

Tel: +34 968 595 945 

Fax: +34 968 974 731 

Email: mazarron@ibexinsure.com 


Hi from Bob, and on behalf of Welcome, a 

very happy New Year to you all, and I hope 

that you had a good Christmas, whether 

you were back in the UK or here at home 

in sunny Spain. A lot has happened in Welcome 

since last month, so I’ll go straight in 

with what’s been going on. 

In November, we had the long-awaited return 

of the Rich Bitch Show. A full room 

was kept entertained all night by the comedy 

and songs of the very popular trio that 

we have all come to know and love. Lots of 

audience participation as usual and not too 

many red faces when it came to the more 

risqué bits! A fabulous night, and let’s hope 

that they’ll be back soon. 

The ladies had their annual day out on 5 th 

December, and went to the new shopping 

mall in La Zenia for two hours of frenzied 

bargain- hunting, then on to Torrevieja for 

a bit of sight-seeing before an evening of 

entertainment at the Lounge Bar, with the 

ever-popular Ricky Powell. Everybody was 

singing and dancing of course; yet another 

enjoyable Welcome excursion. 

Our Christmas 

Dance 

was on Dec 

e m b e r 

12 th , with a 

new face to 

Welcome, 

the lovely 

Rhionne, and 

the return of 

Rob Sweeney. 

They 

kept us dancing 

all night 

long with their vast repertoire of songs from 

the 60’s right up to today, and soon had us 

all in party mood. As usual, Santa Claus 

(aka Bert) paid us a visit, pulled along in his 

sleigh by two intrepid reindeer - well, to be 

more accurate, me and Fran dressed up in 

brown leggings, suede boots, furry gloves 

and silly antlers! Everybody thought it a 

great laugh (I think) and the cameras were 

clicking away like crazy. Mind you, I was 

glad to get those leggings off! They were 

itching like mad! It was hinted, though, that 

maybe I shouldn’t wear them again – have 

you seen my legs? If you have, you’ll know 

what I mean! Another fantastic night, and 

thanks to Rosemary and her helpers for all 

their hard work. 

Forthcoming events: 

January 9 th Games Night at Mariano’s, 

Camposol A on January 9 th at just €3 for a 

night of fun and laughter, with beetle drive, 

bingo and quiz. Always a good night that 

you won’t want to miss. 

January 23 rd Welcome Dance at Mariano’s, 

Camposol A with tributes to Buddy 

Holly, Roy Orbison, Barry Manilow and the 

Everly’s. Only €8 for what promises to be a 

fabulous night. Just €5 extra for pork escalope 

and chips. 

February 14 th Valentine’s Dance at Mariano’s, 

Camposol A with the return of the 

Jazz Singer, and also Gene Pitney and Matt 

Christian. €10 and €5 for lamb chop and 

chips. 

February 16 th -18 th we are off to the Races 

at Mijas, staying two nights at the 4-star 

hotel Triton in Benalmadena, B & B at €150 

per person. We go to the races on 17 th , and 

the next day, before returning home, visiting 

the ancient hill town of Ronda. This is 

always a popular trip, so reserve now. May 

11 th Welcome Cruise to the Norwegian 

fjords leaves our area; overnight in Madrid, 

flight to Copenhagen, then 7 nights aboard 

MSC Poesia, fully inclusive at special discounted 

prices. Rosemary has full details. 

Book/Jigsaw Swap restarts on January 

8 th , then on again 22 nd . Call Jo on 669 457 

985 for more information. 

Petanca is on January 30 th at the rear of 

Mariano’s, and on the last Wednesday of 

each month, starting at 1pm. 

The next Welcome Meeting is on January 

5 th where you can purchase tickets for 

all events. Call Rosemary on 620 105 179 

for more information, or email rosemarybeak@hotmail.com, 

or visit www.welcomegroupspain.com 

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Following an awful week of heavy rainfall, we 

were blessed with a wonderful gift of a lovely 

sunny day in mid-November. A small group 

of us met at 10am at the entrance of the 

Camping La Puerta in Moratalla with Canela 

our ‘four legged’ member full of enthusiasm 

as always for the walk ahead. We walked 

from the Somogil de Abajo until Bancal 

de la Carrasca and La Dehesica and we 

stopped for lunch at “the blue pool”. We 

enjoyed the amazing views of the Alharabe 

River with its cliffs, with the beautiful colours 

of the leaves of the trees changing for the 

Autumn. On route we looked for a precious 

wild mushroom named níscalo or guíscano 

(lactarius deliciosus in Latin), but there were 

none to be found, although we passed other 

people en route that were doing the same. 

In total we walked 14.5 kilometres quite 

happily without any problems, although we 

did have a few scary moments when we had 

to cross through a few large puddles and cross 

the river, but all survived without getting too 

wet!! We would like to repeat this walk next 

year when hopefully it is not so wet. 

WARM (Walkers Around the Region of 

Murcia) is a friendly group of people who 

enjoy walking. We cover the region of 

Murcia, although at the moment the majority 

of our members live in the Northwest of the 

region (Mula, Bullas, Calasaparra, Cehegín 

and Moratalla). We have a wide variety of 

walks for the coming year and a reasonable 

degree of fitness is required for all of 

them. The walks can be anything from 3 to 

7 hours with lunch being a picnic or a meal in 

a local restaurant. The walks are arranged 

by the members and each member takes full 

responsibility for their walk. In January we 

have two walks planned and if you would like 

to join us please contact warm2005@gmail. 

com for further information. 


Street in Calasparra Being Named after 

Pedro Cano 

Pedro Cano is now 68 years old and was 

born in the small Murcian town of Blanca 

in 1944. He was the youngest of three 

brothers and Pedro began his artistic flair 

after his father died in 1954. His older 

brothers tried to cheer him up by giving him 

a box of colouring crayons. This was the 

beginning of Cano’s fascination with art and 

by teaching himself to draw he was able to 

put his problems to one side. As his skills 

improved he took up working with oil paints, 

which became his preferred medium. 

Although not as well known as Picasso, Dali 

and Goya, Cano has made an impact on the 

international art scene and has produced 

over two thousand paintings, the first of 

which was a painting of two trees in bloom. 

This theme has continued throughout his 

career, together with solitude, expressed 

through shape and light. He has been 

influenced by Vermeer and much of his 

work shows careful and detailed work, 

which remains fresh and vibrant. 

After studying art at the Academy of San 

Fernando in Madrid, Cano then attended 

the Spanish Academy in Rome and spent 

five years in New York. Although he has 

spent time travelling the world, he remains 

enchanted by his home town of Blanca 

where he spends time on a regular basis 

and is a highly respected member of the 

community. 

In honour of Cano’s work, Blanca opened 

the Fundacion Pedro Cano Museum 

and Gallery in November 2010, and he 

continues to offer regular art events and 

workshops to locals and visitors to the 

picturesque town. 

The official naming of the street in 

Calasparra will be taking place in the New 

Year and Pedro Cano is expected to attend 

the ceremony. 

Page 12 





A children’s story written for a Spanish 

competition by Pepa Mur, translated by 

her into English. 

The Little One 

The child was wrapped in tissue paper. 

He was almost naked, with only a linen 

napkin. The woman wrapped her hands 

forming a shell to keep him warm. Soon 

the child got out of his lethargy. How 

happy the woman was! With a tissue, she 

helped him get rid of plaster that covered 

the skin. How beautiful he was! 

“Mamáaa” ... whispered the child. She had 

prepared a cap of warm milk and organic 

cake. The child thought he had had a nap, 

but in reality forty years had passed. 

“Mommy I dreamed that we were staying 

at home forever, here, with the cow and 

the angel. Where is the house?” 

B ut that was not possible 

anymore. The cottage was fake. 

The mother smiled and put on a dress 

made from a glove finger. 

“Today I’ll show your true home. It is in 

the fields and forests. You’ll see how you 

like the sun, and how beautiful is the rain.” 

Those three days the old woman walked 

with the little boy on her shoulder so 

he could see the beauty of all that is on 

earth, because the child’s eyes were new 

and he saw all the details. He saw small 

animals that lurked in the way under the 

gravel, and dogs on leads, or fleeing by 

tree branches with fruits in their branches. 

He was also excited by noises next to his 

mother; the engine of the bus or the trains 

repeated wheezing. Never before had they 

travelled together in this way. He had a 

little burst of happiness. 

Then they walked through gardens and 

plantations, the mother sometimes 

stopped to eat a sandwich and gave 

him some grains of pollen, carrying the 

pollen grains in a thimble. She taught 

him how to find pollen in the jasmine and 

marigold, and warned him not to touch 

the fruit. Only touch authentic flowers, 

those having true seed. Sometimes 

flowers or larger fruit are not real, but 

are modified in laboratories, have lost 

their essence which could kill you too. 

He could not be guided by the butterflies 

or bees. The animals are also wrong and 

die. Listen to what your gut tells you. 

But how was your instinct? 

Was a voice inside your chest? 

Would it be like a finger saying yes or no? 

Was a label painted on objects? 

The little baby had many doubts, but it 

was quiet because he thought they would 

be together forever, and his mother taught 

him to recognize his own secret voice, but 

one of those nights, the last one he slept 

in the woods, the mother sang a song 

very long and lay still until he fell asleep, 

tucked under his silver hair. 

At the end of the third day the mother was 

cold and didn’t open her eyes. The little 

boy rested his head on his mother’s cheek 

for a while. He wanted to leave her body, 

but as time went on she was losing her 

red colour, turning yellow and then she fell 

like a leaf. 

Groups of bees came for him to join 

them until winter. In the hive it will be 

hot. Late butterflies and bumblebees, 

hummingbirds, dragonflies and all the 

little winged insects came out of hiding to 

invite him to join them. After a while the 

boy went flying with them. 


No 3A Campillio y Suertes, Cehegin. 

Happy New Year to you all. 

We have some good things happening in 

January. Here in Spain Los Reyes Magos’ 

is celebrated in a big way. To us it is better 

known as Epiphany on the 6 th of January, 

twelfth night after Christmas, by which 

time all the tinsel and glitter of Christmas 

should have been put away for another 

year leaving us with time to reflect. 

Just what were those gifts all about that 

the wise men brought and presented to 

Jesus (who by this time was a toddler)? 

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh can all 

be seen to have a special purpose and 

meaning. 

Gold is associated with royalty and 

symbolised Jesus’ role as the King of 

kings. His family may have used this gift 

to help them in their flight to Egypt and 

their return to their homeland. 

Frankincense was a type of incense 

burned by the priests and used as a sacrifice 

during services of worship. It symbolised 

Jesus’ priesthood. This offering may well 

have been used practically during prayer 

or given to the temple priest as a sacrifice 

by his family. 

Myrrh was used to embalm bodies prior 

to burial and prophetically signified that 

Jesus was born to suffer and die. Jesus’ 

mother Mary may have used the Myrrh for 

His burial. 

The main purpose of travelling such a 

long distance, which took them almost 

two years, was to worship the child Jesus. 

Mathew 2:11 on coming to the house, they 

saw the child with His mother Mary and 

they bowed down and worshipped Him 

We will be using 6 th January at 11am for 

our own celebrations, which will include 

communion, when we will be able to 

reflect and remember what Jesus has 

done for us. Why not join us and see how 

we do things in an informal and relaxed 

atmosphere? 

On 21 st January we will be hosting a 

Burns’ Night Evening. Both of these 

events will be supported by Ken, Carol and 

family from Open Door and of course don’t 

forget Tuesday mornings from 11:30am 

for coffee, welsh cakes and fellowship. 

If you would like to contact us or would 

like our newsletter please email Lynda. 

spain@hotmail.co.uk or Derek. 

tycymru@talktalk.net 

Tel 633 447 937 


Please tell Please our customers tell our customers where you where saw their you advertisement saw their advertisement in the Costa in Cálida the Costa Chronicle Cálida Chronicle 

Page 13 Sales Contact Sales Teresa Contact 619 Teresa 199 407 619 or 199 for the 407 Editor for Contact the Editor Patti Contact 646 005 Patti 017 646 005 017 Page 13 





There are two “cave” experiences in the 

Calasparra area which we have thoroughly 

enjoyed. One is very much a simple outdoor 

excursion and sightseeing trip. The other is 

slightly more serious, but even so, designed 

for most people. 

The first of the “caves” is Calasparra’s best 

known attraction – the Santuario de Nuestra 

Señora de la Esperanza (the Sanctuary of 

our Lady of Hope). La Esperanza is about 5 

kilometres from the town itself to the north by 

the Río Segura. However, if you are driving 

there from Calasparra, do stop en route at 

the ‘Mirador’ (viewpoint) de las Lomas which 

gives a truly superb view over the Segura 

valley and Calasparra’s famous rice fields, 

as well as of the surrounding mountains. La 

Esperanza is just beyond the ‘Mirador’ and 

down a hill. There is ample parking, but if 

you go on a weekend, especially a Sunday in 

the holiday season, the whole place will be 

crowded with locals and visitors alike. It is a 

very popular destination. 

The site of La Esperanza is a deep gorge 

carved by the Río Segura. At the ornate 

entrance to the main area of the Sanctuary, 

look up at the sheer cliffs and rock face which 

bound this side of the valley – together with 

the nets which are positioned to prevent 

rock falls on to unsuspecting visitors. Of 

course, the main feature of the location is 

the magnificent church in the natural cave in 

the rock. It is well worth looking around. It 

is longitudinal and rectangular in shape with 

rock walls and ceiling. The rock ceiling slopes 

quite markedly, being high at the altar end 

and less so at the back. 

The signboard at the entrance says that 

the church was founded at the beginning 

of the 17 th Century, although it is said that 

there was a cult of the Virgin in existence 

here well before then. However, there is a 

fascinating story behind the creation of the 

Sanctuary. The legend tells of a shepherd 

looking after his sheep by these caves who 

stumbled across an image of the Virgin, lost 

many years previously by a Christian Knight. 

The shepherd told the civil and religious 

authorities of his find and they, and others 

from Calasparra, came to see the image and 

take it back to the town. However, although 

small (it is popularly known as “La Pequeñica”) 

it was so heavy for its size that it was decided 

that the Virgin had to be venerated there and 

so the church was constructed in the caves 

themselves. At some point, a larger image 

of the Virgin was added and, by 1786, both 

images were being venerated. In 1840, La 

Virgen de la Esperanza became the Patron of 

Calasparra and her fiesta is celebrated every 

year on 8 September. 

Next to the church, on one side is a gift shop, 

and on the other the “camarin”. The latter 

is where images of the virgin are dressed 

for religious occasions, with numerous 

vestments and gowns, the crown worn by 

the Virgin and chalices etc on display. These 

cloaks and gowns are intricately embroidered 

in various colours and are really works of art 

in themselves. Regardless of your religious 

orientation, it is a display well worth seeing. 

If looking at all these sights has given you 

a hunger and thirst, you will be relieved to 

find that at the end of the road by the church 

is a large restaurant and bar. Then, if you 

feel that you need exercise after eating and 

drinking, you can descend the steps to the 

path which goes alongside the fast flowing 

Segura for what is a very pleasant terrace 

walk indeed. 

The second cave is the ‘Cueva del Puerto’, a 

“real” cave! In fact, it forms part of a system 

which is one of the largest in Murcia. There is, 

however, a specially developed guided “tourist” 

route for visitors on Saturday late afternoons 

and Sunday mornings/early afternoons, at 

hourly intervals. To get there, you follow a 

signposted rural road from the Venta Reales, 

some 5 miles or so from Calasparra on the 

Cieza road, for some distance amid citrus 

trees and through a very short tunnel under 

the railway line. After crossing another rural 

road, you soon arrive at an obvious parking 

area immediately before some gates across 

the road (which may be open) with the Cueva 

del Puerto Interpretation Centre (which is 

visible perched on the hillside for much of 

your drive on the rural road) several hundred 

yards up the steep hill in front of you. 

Although it may be possible to park in the 

very limited space at the Centre, we decided 

to have the invigorating exercise of a steep 

climb up to the Interpretation Centre, pausing 

occasionally to look at the superb scenery. 

When we were there (September 2012), the 

Centre was still very much a work in progress 

and still not open. 

100 or so yards from the Interpretation Centre 

were two large wooden doors in the hillside 

with the title ‘Cueva del Puerto’ above 

them. These appeared the obvious entrance, 

but to our surprise, we had to climb about 

another 50 metres up the hill to another small 

building to reach the entrance we would use. 

The humidity in the caves is over 90% and the 

temperature 

constant 

at around 

18˚C. You 

will certainly 

sweat whilst 

on the tour! 

On your 

tour, you 

pass through 

numerous 

caves and 

passages 

such the 

“ S o t a n o 

de Gaudi” 

(Gaudi’s 

C e l l a r ) 

where the 

stalactites, stalagmites and columns are 

particularly impressive. You will also see a 

whole host of other rock formations on which 

you can use your imagination – a monkey, a 

vagabond, gnomes, an elephant, a dolphin, a 

snake, plus interesting coral-like structures. 

The tour of the caves (6€ per person in 

September 2012) is not for the fainthearted, 

although anyone with normal mobility should 

have no problem. It is guided throughout 

and the guide had both a torch and stick 

with which to indicate interesting features; in 

Spanish naturally. If there is only a handful 

of people on the tour, which lasts the best 

part of an hour, you may also be offered a 

torch, but if you remember, take your own. 

The tourist route through the caves is well 

constructed with concrete paths and steps 

with white painted edges. It is also lit, but 

there are shadows so the extra light of a torch 

may sometimes be helpful. Some surfaces 

are quite steep and you will occasionally be 

advised to tread carefully because of damp 

on the ground, or to watch your head/back 

in the lower sections (there are no hard hats 

provided!). We thoroughly enjoyed the tour 

and felt our early Sunday morning start had 

been more than adequately rewarded. 

Article by Clive and Rosie Palmer who have 

written several guide books on towns and 

regions in Murcia. These can be seen at, and 

obtained from, www.lulu.com, or contact 

clive.palmer5@btinternet.com. 

Clive and Rosie’s most recent book, 

“Exploring Murcia, Days Out” is available 

to buy from the CHM/Costa Cálida Chronicle 

office on Camposol B, Best Wishes (who also 

stock other of their books), or phone Patti on 

986 433 978. 

Page 14 





Excursion 5: From El Somogil 

to Barranco De Hondares 

On 25 th November we headed towards 

Hondares Ravine, which was the penultimate 

tour of the autumn programme “Discovering 

Moratalla”. The morning was cold, but the 

sun heated up as only it can do at this time 

of year in the Region of Murcia. We started 

the walk from Las Juntas” del Arroyo de 

Hondares and Rio Alhárabe, wondering how 

we could find the ravine. 

The day continued to progress dramatically, 

with a good spring temperature, clean air, 

and the majestic landscape at the start of 

our walk. Our first stop was in the “Pozo 

del Somogil” with the thermal water, which 

added to the list of wonders of this place. 

The humidity prevailing in recent weeks 

was obvious with so many mushrooms, the 

exuberance of mosses and micro-gardens 

that are near the “ombligo de venus” on the 

rocks, making a “collage” in various shades 

of green. A robin hidden in the thicket gave 

us the magic of its metallic note. 

managed to show only small pieces of this 

fossil resin. The wealth of information tells 

us of the climate, vegetation, wildlife and 

the great fires that occurred in el Albiense, 

while dinosaurs still ran around here. 

We continued our journey to meet “La 

Gran Encina del Somogil” the monumental 

tree, which extends its ancient branches 

across the path we follow. We took this 

opportunity to stop and take some photos. 

How many travellers have rested under this 

old oak tree? 

We advanced directly on the bed of the 

ravine, which is in a flooded area, and were 

surprised to see a woodcock or a limícolo. 

It is not the first time that we have seen 

one here, but it is certainly quite rare. 

Moving through the vegetation, “away from 

the noisy world”, we reached the first of 

the waterfalls, willows with yellow leaves 

and rushing water creating a wild and 

rugged cascade down a path to the right. 

We continued climbing up to the top of 

“Las Tortugas” and were surprised to see 

tyre tracks of bikes that have come to this 

remote place. 

immense ecological value. We took more 

photos and started back. We quickly arrived 

near another converted cascade of water, 

took more photos and continue on down, 

not looking at the wild roses and clematis. 

Some were fortunate to observe a group of 

vultures flying high. 

The downhill return we almost rushed, 

starting to think about the food at the 

restaurant Montebenamor; local sausages, 

pork knuckle and the house fritters 

reminding us of those our mothers make. 

We talked about the day and other things 

with frequent laughter. We had the privilege 

of Isabel Andreu bestowing on us the first 

oil of the season; many dunking the bread 

in delight. After congratulating those who 

gave us such an exquisite meal, we said 

goodbye. 

It was difficult to cross the Arroyo de 

Hondares which had grown after recent 

rains. During the night the ravine has been 

used by many carnivorous mammals that 

inhabit the area, according to the amount of 

different excrement we encountered, from 

the little weasel, badger, fox and polecat. We 

imagine the nocturnal movements of these 

clever animals. This first part of the walk 

was hard, but the sight of the yellow maples 

hanging from the tall cenajos, encouraged 

us to walk and climb the hill slowly. Soon we 

began to see the impressive “Aguja Iniesta” 

at the bottom of the Puntal de Fraile a 

dolomitic sculpture symbolic of this area. 

We turned away from the path and went 

towards the cretaceous amber deposit, 

the only one of the Region of Murcia and 

the southernmost point of the Peninsula. 

Mixed with lignite and fusinitas, supports 

“crushed” the tons of dolomite which have 

The morning was well advanced as we 

admired the pond and the water curtain 

that provided a moist environment in 

which we found several endemic species 

of aquatic macroinvertebrates, a place of 

In In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com 





Page 15


If you thought that all the celebrations were 

over, think again as for the Spanish, the 

main celebrations will be over the weekend 

of 6th January. Even many of the bars and 

restaurants will be closed during this time 

as each town and village has its own festivals. 

It is time for families and friends to 

get together to celebrate Los Tres Reyes 

and the farmers may even have a day off 

from picking the olives, which appear to be 

plentiful this year. 

Barranda, near Caravaca will be celebrating 

during the last weekend of January for 

their Fiesta de las Cuadrillas when bands 

or ‘cuadrillas’ from all over Spain join in 

competitions and events. These often last 

well into the early hours of the morning as 

only the Spanish know how. For more information, 

go to 

www.fiestadelascuadrillas.com/ 

Dick Whittington 

Panto 

For those of 

you who are 

feeling the 

‘post New 

Year Blues’, 

cheer yourselves 

up by 

going to the 

Auditorium 

in Bullas to 

join in and 

watch the 

pantomime 

Dick Whittington 

being 

performed by Cloud Nine Drama Group 

on Saturday 2 nd February. These drama 

players put so much into their productions 

that we should support them whenever we 

can. If you would like to become involved 

in future productions, give Pat Hunt a call 

on 644 400 123 or email patsy.hunt@ 

gmail.com 

The Foundation Spanish Railways 

(FFE) and Turespaña signed a collaboration 

agreement for the promotion of 

Spanish Via Verde 

The managing director of FFE, Juan Pedro 

Pastor Valdés, and the Secretary General 

of the Tourism Institute of Spain (Turespaña), 

Ignacio Valle Muñoz, in the presence 

of Manuel Butler, Director General of Turespaña, 

have signed a collaboration agreement 

between the two entities in order to 

develop joint marketing actions aimed at 

strengthening the international market position 

of the tourism product “Via Verde” in 

2013. The signing took place on Wednesday 

12 December at the headquarters of 

Turespaña. 

Marketing actions that may be implemented 

under the agreement will be related to 

market research, the exchange of content 

and information materials, to share with 

travel agents and tour operators. 

There will also be campaigns aimed at consumers, 

as local marketing campaigns, direct 

marketing, Fairs and social networking 

presence. 

Priority markets where they will develop 

promotional activities are: France, UK, 

Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the 

Nordic countries, the United States and 

Canada. 

That convention’s validity will end on December 

31 st 2013. 

Via Verde 

SPANISH Railway Foundation 

c / Santa Isabel, 44 - 28012 MADRID 

Tel 911 511 057 

www.viasverdes.com 

viasverdes@ffe.es 

CEHEGÍN SCENE 

On the last Sunday of every month to May 

2013 (excluding March 2013) in the “Plaza 

del Castillo” in the old town of Cehegin 

(Casco Antiguo) there is a craft market 

known as “El Mesoncico” . There you will 

find more than 50 craftsmen of the area 

with stalls displaying such products as 

cured meats, hams, pottery, cakes, wines, 

cheeses, etc. On the 27 th of January you 

will be able to see the traditional matanza 

(the preparation of freshly prepared pork). 

You will experience the wonderful flavours 

of pork, roast meats and freshly 

barbecued cured meats and sausages, 

all accompanied by good wine and bread. 

There will also be handmade traditional 

Spanish dishes like ‘olla’ and’ migas’. 

Free parking is available at the Marble 

Technology Centre situated in Carretera 

Murcia, approached from the West. A free 

bus service is operated to the market place 

every 20 minutes. 

The Archaeological See of Begastri is 

opened for visitors on Saturdays and Sundays 

10am-2pm. You will be able to see 

a video presentation followed by a guided 

tour to see the remains of the Iberian culture 

before the IV century B.C. 

5 th Car Boot Sale In Cehegín. Antiques 

And Second-Hand Goods 

A Car Boot Sale will be held in Cehegín on 

Sunday 20 th of January at the square beside 

the old railway station in the Vía Verde, 

just two minutes from Mercadona. There is 

plenty of room for parking and stalls will be 

provided by the Town hall at a price of 2€. 

Anyone interested in booking a stall please 

contact the Cehegín Tourist Office on 968 

723 550. All are welcome. 

Free Nature Walks 

Cehegin provides a variety of landscapes 

which include woods, mountains, hills, 

sloping valleys, scrubland and streams. 

These natural habitats host flora and fauna 

of special interest which provide a priceless 

tourist and educational resource. The 

walks take place on the last Saturday of 

each month. They are designed for people 

of all ages who enjoy hiking at fairly easy 

levels which makes them accessible for the 

whole family. 

The tourist walks are free and start at 9am 

and are 4-9km, and will take 2-3 hours. 

We are preparing the time-table for the nature 

walk in and around Cehegin for 2013. 

Please, contact Santi regarding the nature 

walk in January. 

**The Ecological Park Will Be Closed 

Until Further Notice ** 

Any further enquiries please contact the 

Cehegin Tourist Office located in front of 

the Town hall at 968 723 550 or visit our 

tourist website www.turismocehegin.es 

Santiago Leo 

Cehegin Tourist Office 

Page 16 









Page 17

1 st 1973 Britain joined the European 

Economic Community at the 

third attempt, after rejections in 

1963 and 1967. 

2 nd 1492 Moorish Granada fell, completing 

the reconquest of Spain by 

Christian monarchs Ferdinand 

and Isabella. 

4 th 1967 Donald Campbell was killed 

trying to break his own water 

speed record in Bluebird K7 on 

Coniston Water. 

6 th 1838 American inventor Samuel Morse 

gave the first demonstration 

of his invention, the electric 

telegraph. 

7 th 1785 Blanchard and Jeffries made the 

first aerial crossing of the English 

Channel, in a hot air balloon. 

9 th 1799 British Prime Minister William 

Pitt introduced income tax to 

raise funds for the war against 

Napoleon. 

10 th 1863 The London Underground, the 

world’s oldest underground 

railway, opened between 

Paddington and Farringdon. 

11 th 1973 The Open University, Britain’s 

groundbreaking distancelearning 

university, awarded its 

first degrees. 

12 th 1895 The National Trust was set up in 

the UK to preserve and protect 

landscapes of beauty or historic 

interest. 

13 th 2004 Harold Shipman, believed to 

be Britain’s most prolific serial 

killer, hung himself at Wakefield 

Prison. 

22 nd 1901 Queen Victoria, the longest 

reigning monarch in British 

history, died aged 81 after 64 

years as queen. 

24 th 1965 British statesman and national 

hero Winston Churchill died aged 

90 and was honoured with a 

state funeral. 

26 th 1788 The first convicts deported from 

England landed at Sydney Cove 

in Australia, commemorated by 

Australia Day. 

26 th 1926 British scientist John Logie 

Baird gave the first public 

demonstration of television. 

28 th 1986 The US space shuttle ‘Challenger’ 

exploded after take off from 

Cape Canaveral, killing all seven 

crew. 

29 th 1886 German engineer Karl Benz 

patented the first practical car 

powered by a petrol internal 

combustion engine. 


Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American 

singer, songwriter and producer. He sold 

over 25 million albums and won 8 Grammy 

Awards including Best R&B Male Vocal 

Performance 4 times. In 2004 he won 4 

Grammy’s including the award for Song 

of the Year for the track “Dance with my 

Father” which he co-wrote with Richard 

Marx. Born in New York on 20 th April 1951, 

Vandross grew up in a musical family; he was 

playing the piano at the age of 3. He formed 

his first group Shades of Jade whilst in High 

School and was also a member of a New York 

Theatre workshop Listen my Brother who had 

a couple of minor chart successes.Vandross 

went to University but dropped out after 

a year to pursue a career in music. He was 

mostly doing session work in the 70’s working 

with artists such as Patti Labelle, Roberta 

Flack and Diana Ross. He was also writing 

songs working with David Bowie on the 

“Young Americans” album co-writing the 

track “Fascination”. 

He continued writing and session work until 

in 1978 when he joined the disco band Greg 

Diamonds Bionic Boogie as lead singer. 

They were relatively successful with fans. but 

commercially did not do very well. It was an 

appearance on the Quincy Jones Sounds 

and Stuff like That television programme 

which made not only the public, but the music 

industry aware of how good he was. 

Vandross joined the famous pop dance act 

Change and their 1980 hits “The Glow of 

Love” and “Searching” with him singing 

lead vocals opened up the world for him. After 

disagreements mainly over money, Vandross 

quit Change in 1981 and immediately was 

snapped up by Epic Records. His debut album 

“Never too Much” was released in 1981 

and was a commercial and critical success. 

He spent the 80’s releasing albums, all of 

which were topping the R&B and mainstream 

charts, but he was also touring and finding 

time to record guest vocals with other artists. 

Vandross was also heavily into producing. 

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin asked him 

to produce her new album “Jump to It” and 

in 1983 he produced and worked with who he 

freely admitted was one of his major musical 

influences, the great Dionne Warwick on 

her album “How Many Times Can We Say 

Goodbye”. 

By the late 80’s Vandross was still releasing 

classic albums, but commercially, single chart 

success was eluding him. In 1985 he sang 

background vocals on the Stevie Wonder 

hit “Part Time Lover” as well as producing 

for other artists. In 1990 he wrote and sang 

on “Who do you Love”, a major hit with 

Whitney Houston and continued with the 

massive hit “Best Things in Life are Free” 

with Janet Jackson. The hits continued 

both solo and with artists such as Mariah 

Carey and in 1997 he was given the honour 

of singing the National Anthem at Superbowl 

XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New 

Orleans. 

Vandross had suffered from Diabetes and 

Hypertension which was generic in his family 

and illness was taking its toll. His last tour 

was in 2002 and in 2003 he released the 

classic album “Dance with my Father” 

which was a commercial and critical hit. On 

16 th April 2003 Vandross suffered a stroke 

and he withdrew from public life. He made a 

brief appearance on videotape at the 2004 

Grammy’s to accept his award for Song of 

the Year (One of 4 he won for “Dance with 

my Father”.) His last appearance was on the 

Oprah Winfrey Show where he looked frail 

and very ill and he was never seen in public 

again. 

Luther Vandross died of a heart attack at 

the age of just 54 on 1 st July 2005. After 

two days of viewing, his funeral was held at 

The Riverside Church on 5 th July attended by 

not only everyone in the R&B Industry, but 

thousands of fans as well. I love his music 

especially the tracks “Give me the Reason” 

and “Stop to Love” and the songs he wrote 

and sang will be listened to and enjoyed for 

many more years by generations of fans old 

and new. 

You can listen to Mark Davies on Costa 

Cálida Radio on Nite Express on Mon and 

Wed 7-9pm and on Friday evenings on Cálida 

Rocks 7-9pm. 

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Page 23


Challenges 

for The New 

Gardening 

Year by 

Clodagh and 

Dick, holistic 

gardeners 

and authors 

living in Spain 

for 25 years 

Looking back over the last year, the thing that 

stands out is the very long spring to autumn 

dry spell with no rain until the last days of 

September and then moderate or heavy rains 

during October and November depending 

where one lives. With that rain, many plants 

responded amazingly with new growth and 

flowers, so that those who did not get pre- 

Christmas early frosts had exceptionally 

colourful year-end gardens and there is more 

than normal growth to be pruned back during 

the winter cutback. 

Unfortunately, much of that growth is young 

and not hardened off by the summer sun, 

so if you are in a frost pocket, do cover the 

less hardy plants with fleece and move plants 

in pots under cover. We line a large gazebo 

with a large circle of plastic to house 50 or 

so succulents etc from December until Easter, 

but most plants and trees can be given their 

major annual cut back now to ensure that 

they are of a good size and shape before they 

bud up for spring and summer flowering. 

If you are new to Spain, Chapter 6.9 of our 

book ‘Your Garden in Spain’ describes what 

needs to be done in some detail. 

Taking account of the challenges of last 

summer, and indeed most summers in 

Spain, we have published a booklet to 

supplement our other books. The title is 

‘Making Waterless Gardens a Practical 

Reality Worldwide’ and it is published as 

an Amazon Kindle E-book priced at 2.60€ on 

Amazon Spain and £1.86 on Amazon UK. We 

have only a few hard copies which we make 

available at the end of talks to gardening and 

social clubs. The book focuses on what can be 

done to create better gardens with half the 

use of water and ways of collecting storing 

and distributing rainfall effectively. It includes 

several hundred practical ideas. 

A new year thought for readers - after the 

experiences of last summer, no-one can claim 

to be a Mediterranean gardener unless they 

nurse their gardens through the changing 

climatic conditions of a twelve month period 

and walk the garden every few days to check 

which plants need a little water rather than 

drip-watering plants regardless of real needs. 

The real needs for Spanish gardens are plants 

with deep roots that can search naturally for 

lower moisture and nutrients. 

With the prices of vegetables and fruit rising 

each year and the continuing difficulty in most 

areas to obtain ecologically grown vegetables 

and fruit, it makes sense to plant up extra 

fruit trees and prepare containers, raised 

beds and/or a veggie plot ready for spring 

planting and then replanting next autumn for 

autumn, Christmas, winter and early spring 

crops. For beginners, it makes much sense to 

plant plantlets rather than sowing seeds for 

many varieties. If you ask around, you should 

be able to discover where Spaniards buy their 

plantlets from and when. 

Once Three Kings’ celebrations are past, get 

going to work off the inevitable extra kilo or 

two. By the way, wandering around Spain 

giving talks or manning question and answer 

stands at various events, we note than many 

more local councils are sponsoring municipal 

allotments and expats with too much land are 

turning areas into allotments for those with 

less land or poor soil. We congratulate all that 

have taken such initiatives. If there are areas 

of allotments on the various urbanisations 

such as Camposol, can someone please let us 

know via gardeninginspain@hotmail.com 

Two other jobs for January are the pruning 

and training of grape vines and the pruning 

of olive trees; 

both jobs 

Dick enjoys, 

as one sees 

immediate 

benefit in 

the neat 

architecturally 

shaped vines 

and trees. If 

not already 

done, why 

not grow 

your grapes 

and olives 

ecologically 

this year? For 

both, sprays of Neem oil and Propolis, natural 

insecticides and fungicides, can be used, plus 

spring and summer dustings of vines with 

ecological natural yellow sulphur powder. If 

you can’t trace Neem or Propolis locally, they 

can be obtained by mail order from www. 

trabe.net – the website can be explored in 

English. Grape vines are very undemanding 

and excess bunches of grapes can be dried 

to produce the raisins and sultanas for the 

Christmas cake, puddings and mince meat as 

we do. 

Talking of websites, can readers please 

help us? Shortly before Christmas the 

domain name of our site was hijacked. 

The only economic solution has been 

to change our domain name to www. 

gardenspain.com. As readers with 

computer experience will know, it takes 

time to let people know of a new site 

and build up its reputation. Even though 

the content of the old site has been 

reloaded, search engines such as Google 

have to find the site and retrieve all the 

information and articles pages in order 

that they can be accessed by topic based 

searches. Can you please therefore help 

us out by just doing a search for www. 

gardenspain.com. Many thanks. 

Clodagh and Dick Handscombe 

Page 24 





Welcome everyone to 2013. 

A huge big thank you to all who attended our 

Christmas Lunch on 5 th December at the Trevi 

Bar. Everyone said what a fantastic ‘do’ it was 

- what more could we ask for! 

At the time of writing this, we are getting the 

donkeys ready for their Christmas outing to 

Camposol as well as annual sherry and mince 

pies, so more on this next month. 

We had a good year through 2012, all in all. 

Like any other charity we had our ups and 

downs. The main point though is that the 

animals we rescued are safe and well and we 

managed to home a total of 32 dogs. You may 

be thinking that this is not a lot, but when 

you consider that we were set up as a donkey 

charity primarily and to help other animals 

when we could, we think that this was a good 

year, 

The shop throughout the year was our only 

regular source of income and it managed to 

keep the charity on an even keel. To this end I 

must congratulate all the staff who work there 

and I very much appreciate their efforts, even 

if I don’t tell them often and of course I and 

all the animals owe a great deal of thanks 

to you the public as without your donations 

of unwanted items and support, this charity 

would no longer exist. 

Our team of dedicated members of the 

committee have kept the charity going 

forward, not forgetting the support of staff at 

the Costa Cálida Chronicle who allow us these 

articles each month. We hope that this year is 

good for all of us. 

We still have dogs that need forever homes, 

and also we are in desperate need of foster 

carers. 

Our shop in Fuente Alamo opens 10.30am- 

2.30pm Monday to Friday. We sell secondhand 

goods from clothing to furniture. We 

desperately need extra staff in the shop. If 

you could consider taking a dog, long term, 

short term or permanently, or fancy working 

in the shop give me a call on 690 906 565. 

Finally, please take a look at these two 

beauties who are both needing homes. They 

are fully inoculated, neutered, wormed etc. 

Check out all out dogs on our Facebook page. 

Andrea 

Check to see if yours is one of 4m EHIC cards 

expiring this year. The free European Health 

Insurance Card gives you access to EU (plus 

a few other) state-run hospitals or GPs like 

a local. In other words, if it’s free for them, 

it’s free for you. The EHIC is usable in the 

EU’s 27 member states, plus a few others. 

It is important to show your card before 

treatment, and keep any receipts. 

In Spain state healthcare is free, but 

check they accept your EHIC card first as 

some hospitals and health centres also 

offer private healthcare. See http://www. 

nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/ 

countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSpain.aspx. 

Full help & links at www.moneysavingexpert. 

com/travel/free-ehic-card, but three key 

rules... 

a) Check all your family’s cards. 4 million 

expired in 2012. Renew it or it is invalid. 

b) Always keep it with you. Each person needs 

to visibly show theirs to use it. 

c) EHICs are free, but don’t Google them, 

you may get sites charging £15. ‘Fast track’ 

applications don’t exist, avoid getting caught 

out. 

Sadly, far too many are caught out through 

Googling ‘EHIC’ and end up paying through 

an unofficial website. If this has happened 

to you, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your 

money back. However, it’s worth contacting 

the site straight away and asking for a full 

refund, just in case. 

There are several ways to register for a card: 

Apply on www.ehic.org.uk, or find more info 

on www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad. 

Call 0845 606 2030. 

Generally, it will take about 7-10 days for it 

to come through, though it’s worth applying 

early so you get it in good time for your 

holiday. If you have lost your card, or it has 

been stolen, call 0845 606 2030, or from 

abroad call 0044 (0)191 218 1999. For more 

emergency info, it’s also worth taking the 

free, printable Little Lifesaver travel guide 

(www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/travelprint-guide) 

with you when you are away. 

If you’ve any questions about the application 

process, there’s also now an official EHIC 

Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/ 

NHSBSAEuropeanHealthInsuranceCard?ref=s 

tream) where you can get help from the EHIC 

NHS team. 





Page 25

Doctor Peter Gammons came to the OBCF to 

speak on healing. He appears on SKY TV God 

Channel, teaching and praying for many in 

other nations. 

Peter has recently moved from Florida to his 

base in Cambridge and was on tour in our area. 

He spoke on Luke chapter 1, ascertaining to 

Mary preparing for the birth of Jesus. 

For our healing there are certain steps of giving 

birth to your miracle. We need to take a step 

of expectation, and believe for a miracle until 

it is complete. At the end of the meeting many 

people came forward for prayer. 

My wife and I took a group on a pilgrimage 

to Israel. Whilst there, we baptised half of 

the group in the river Jordan where Jesus was 

baptised by John the Baptist. Also we took 

a boat trip across the Sea of Galilee where I 

performed wedding blessings. On our arrival 

home we showed a DVD of Israel, and a DVD of 

the baptisms which was well received. 

Did you find true contentment in 2012? 

If not, let 2013 be a year of change. 

Why not let Jesus into your life and find joy 

everlasting and a future hope of eternity. 

We would like to thank all who stood in the gap 

in our absence. 

For more information on the Olive Branch 

Christian Fellowship, contact Pastors Ralph 

and Margaret Locke on 968 199 622 or 618 

720 181. Our Sunday morning service at the 

Community Centre on Camposol B starts at 

10.30am each week. 


Wines of the Month chosen by Yoann from Le 

Gourmet Wine Bar, Puerto de Mazarrón 

The other 

wine is 

a red 

Spanish 

Ribera 

del Duero 

Martin 

Berdugo 

for only 

6.95€. It’s a powerful and 

tasty wine and is good served 

with steak or other meat. 

Enjoy these wines and we 

hope to see you soon in Le 

Gourmet. 

The Viognier is a very nice 

dry and fresh white for only 

6.50€ a bottle. This wine 

has been fermented at low 

temperatures for three 

weeks and should be stored 

at no more than 8º. 

Page 26 









Page 27

The Mazarrón Pudding Club has made a 

further donation of 400€ recently to the Lorca 

Earthquake Relief Fund. At the Club’s AGM 

in September each year, every subscribing 

Club member has his name put into a hat and 

one name is pulled out. The winning member 

then has the right to nominate a bona-fide 

registered charity to receive a sum of money. 

The amount is made up from the members’ 

annual subscriptions plus a charity donation 

of 2€ each, made by members at every club 

luncheon they attend. The Club is a non-profit 

making Club. 

The photo shows Ken Severn, this year’s 

winner, presenting the cheque for 400€ to 

the Caixa Bank Management with the Club’s 

Executive Committee in attendance. 

Since its inception, five years ago, Mazarrón 

Pudding Club has donated 300-400€ each 

year to charities such as MABS, Caritas etc 

and 400€ last year to the Lorca Earthquake 

Relief Fund. 

Mazarrón Pudding Club meets six times 

a year at different restaurants that are able 

to provide a traditional steak and kidney 

pudding and awards a plaque once a year 

to the restaurant voted the best at each 

AGM. Members, wives and partners attend 

two luncheons during the year; one in 

December and one in May. Members pay an 

annual subscription of 10€ and the club has 

a membership limit of 30 which it has nearly 

reached. 

Reg Croxford, President 

Mazarrón Pudding Club 


FAST Christmas Fayre 

The FAST Christmas Fayre held on 10 th November 

can only be hailed as an outstanding 

success, raising over €4600. This figure was 

further increased by €500 as the result of a 

donation given by an individual who wishes to 

remain anonymous. 

This success can attributed to the many different 

stages leading up to the day itself; 

from selecting the date, to hold the fayre, 

through the organisation of booking the venue, 

getting stall holders, arranging manpower 

to set up and take down on the day etc. The 

FAST Support Team and their stalwart efforts 

organising and securing prizes for the 

FAST Prize Draw and selling tickets whatever 

the weather made the draw a sell out. 

The Members of FAST would like to thank all 

those who helped to make the Christmas 

Fayre such a resounding success; the stall 

holders with their wonderful array of goodies 

on display, the residents and visitors who 

attended the fayre giving their support and 

all those individuals who donated to the Draw 

and Tombola stall. 

Finally we would like to thank those businesses 

who also gave so generously and contributed 

to the Prize Draw and a big thank you 

to Tina & Wayne of The Steak-Out for suffering 

in silence as the FAST Prize Draw ticket 

sellers stood outside their bar/restaurant for 

9 weeks and to Mariano’s for the venue: 

TJ Electronics for supplying the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd 

prizes in the draw + €50 donation 

Vouchers from: Quality Indian, The Fuschia 

Clinic, The Vista Bar, Cat’s Bar, TJ’s, Branded 

Fashions, Dental Care Sector B, Healthy H2O, 

Just Fabulous, A Hogg @ Puncture Safe Murcia, 

Legs & Co, The Fereteria, Sector A, Annette 

Ryder - Tarot Reading, Yorkshire Linen, 

Tropic Ana, The Beauty Palace, Kelly the mobile 

hairdresser & Ocean Fish Bar. 

Donation from Welcome 

On 1 st December Rosemary Beak from the 

Welcome Group kindly donated a cheque for 

378.78€ to Bob and Chris Halsey who were 

representing FAST. This contribution will 

fund the purchase of further oxygen equipment 

such as the new regulator seen here 

being held by Chris. This equipment is absolutely 

necessary for FAST to perform its tasks 

as First Aid Responders. 

The equipment carried 

by all teams of FAST 

Responders when on 

duty, includes a Trauma 

Bag, Oxygen and a 

Defibrillator which was 

demonstrated to Welcome 

Group members 

attending the meeting. 

A big thank you to the 

Welcome Group and 

we would also like to 

take this opportunity 

to thank Tel’s Bar, 

Camposol A for their continued donations and 

support. 

We rely 100% on public donations and all responders 

are unpaid volunteers. 

FAST – Making Camposol Safer For All 

FAST – Camposol (First Aid Support Team 

Registered M3035763 (2) 

FAST - Registered Charity Number 

G30863658 

fastcamposol@hotmail.com 

Gerry Bradshaw 677 288 033 

Facebook fast camposol 

FAST and its Members wish to thank all those 

who have supported us over the past year 

and we wish you all a Happy and Healthy Festive 

New Year. 

Page 28 





ESAMD raise over 4,000€ for RBL 2012 

Poppy Appeal 

The Ex- Servicemen’s Association of 

Mazarrón District (ESAMD), are pleased to 

announce that over 4,000€ was collected 

in our area for the Royal British Legion 

Poppy Appeal 2012. This is 1,500€ more 

than 2011 and our grateful thanks go to 

all the restaurants, shops, bars and their 

customers who supported this campaign. 

Thanks go to our members who stood 

outside Consum and other venues selling 

Poppies; also to those who spent hours 

counting and banking the proceeds. We 

are very grateful to have such an amenable 

bank manager at the Caja Murcia Bank on 

Camposol Sector A. 

An amazing 1,274.79€ of the total was 

donated by Sara Lara’s Bar in Puerto 

de Mazarrón. Sara and her customers 

organised sponsored events, raffles and 

also gave very generously of their time 

and money. 

As a footnote it is worth remembering that 

ALL the Poppy money raised in Spain goes 

towards helping our beneficiaries here in 

Spain. 

Age Concern at Christmas & the New 

Year 

The Christmas Fair was held at Lagarto 

Verde, Puerto de Mazarrón on Saturday 1 st 

December. The fair attracted over thirty five 

stalls, with tombola, cakes, plants, sweets, 

pies, ceramics, clothes, bags, bling, cards, 

jewellery, spices, curry mixes and more! 

There was a special Harlequin Choir performance 

which was well received. Hundreds 

came through the doors and the event 

made over 1100€. 

28 th November saw the monthly Menu del 

Dia at La Barraca, Puerto de Mazarrón with 

Johnny Sparrow entertaining. This event 

was very well received, with an excellent 

meal and Johnny Sparrow played his heart 

out! 

Future events: 

January 9 th Age Concern Social at Camposol 

Cultural Centre. January 30 th Menu del 

Dia at Los Galayos, Puerto de Mazarrón. 

10€ with entertainment 

February 7th Age Concern Auction at 

Mariano’s, Camposol A. 

The gavel will come down at 1pm, but you 

can view the goods on offer from 11am- 

12pm. This is a first auction of the year and 

it is planned that a further three will be held 

during the year. Anyone can sell up to three 

items, which must be registered before the 

sale and delivered to Mariano’s on the day. 

You can also register at the Cultural Centre 

on a Wednesday morning. There is a 5€ 

administrative charge and you keep all the 

proceeds. So far the auctions have attracted 

a lot of buyers and sellers, with a wide 

range of merchandise. It is hoped that good 

quality items are attracted. It is up to you to 

put a reserve on any item. 

The postponed Rock ‘N Roll Night is at 

Mariano’s, Camposol A on 12 th April. 

Many readers will by now be familiar with 

the story of Georgina and her husband, a 

couple in their eighties whose isolation resulted 

in burglary, the legal loss of their 

home, the husband in hospital with cancer, 

and Georgina repatriated to the UK. Many 

of our local agencies have helped, as have 

many individuals. Sadly the need to raise 

money for a funeral is still there, but this 

is progressing to a satisfying amount. The 

case underlines the need for personal planning, 

and the vulnerability we will all have 

as we age. It also underlines the need for 

agencies like Age Concern. Individuals will 

fall through the cracks and will find themselves 

with needs which they cannot meet 

on their own The main plea Age Concern 

would make is don’t leave matters to the 

last minute; come and talk to us when you 

know you have a problem. Look after you 

own future. 

Advice/information/tickets are available 

at the Camposol Cultural Centre, Wednesdays 

and Thursdays 10am-1pm and Fridays 

12.30-3.30pm and tickets etc on Friday 

mornings 10am-1pm outside Bar Salud 

Camposol B with a bric-a-brac sale on the 

last Friday of the month. 

For advice, information, and tickets in Puerto 

de Mazarrón, please ring 634 336 484. 

For Camposol ring 634 310 215 






Page 29

Camposol Fiesta 2013…..The Ball Is 

Rolling!!! 

The Committee for the Official Camposol 

Fiesta 2013 is now in place and is already 

busy fundraising and making preparations 

for the big event next June. 

Speaking after the Committee Meeting at 

the Business Centre, Camposol, Chairperson 

Michelle Moston said “Although we are a 

brand new committee, we are enjoying the 

challenge and we are learning together. 

Between us we have a wealth of skills and 

experience and more importantly unlimited 

enthusiasm to make next year’s Fiesta a 

roaring success. We have still not been able 

to confirm the date with the Council, but we 

are working hard to gain sponsorship from 

local businesses and organise fund raising 

events and activities across Camposol. 

“As in previous years, the Fiesta is being 

staged at the Sector B Commercial Centre, 

but we are very keen to ensure that all 

Camposol businesses and residents feel 

involved in the run-up to the event. We hope 

to make the whole experience as inclusive 

as possible and as such we have gained the 

support of almost all the Camposol bars and 

restaurants to hold fund raising events in the 

New Year. 

“On 9 th February 2013, Alley Palais will be 

hosting a fund raising Comedy Hypnotic 

Show. Dave Rawson is a fabulous hypnotist 

from Ibiza who has recently made UK 

newspaper headlines by hypnotising X 

Factor’s Rylan Clark. There are also a number 

of other events planned such as a TV Game 

Show, Race Nights, Dinner Dances and much 

more. 

“We are also very keen to make the Fiesta 

a family affair and we are pleased to have 

Nichola Green on the Committee as our 

Children’s Representative. She has been 

busy gaining the views of the local children 

to find out what they want to see at the 

Fiesta and we aim to hold a number of events 

specifically for them. We are delighted that 

one of our talented youngsters will design 

the logo for the Fiesta. We will soon be 

launching a competition which will be open 

to all children in the Mazarrón area, so watch 

this space!” 

Tickets for the Hypnotist show are 10€ each 

and can be purchased from Alley Palais 

Sector B, Paramount Villa Rentals or from 

the Thursday Market, Camposol A or you can 

email michelle.moston@googlemail.com 

or “like” our Camposol Fiesta Facebook page. 


What a great end to the PALS’ year; a 

fantastic night at the Costa Costa Hotel, 

celebrating our Annual Christmas Ball 

on 9 th December and with the presentation 

of a cheque for 1416€ from the TJ’s Bike 

Ride in September, we finished 2012 on a 

high note. 

2013 will start as usual with the Sponsored 

Swim on the Bahia Beach on New 

Year’s Day; a full report in next month’s 

issue. 

On January 25 th we will be having a traditional 

Burns’ Night at the Playa Grande 

Hotel, Puerto de Mazarrón 

- imported haggis, 

neaps and tatties 

etc. 25€ per head for 

the meal, and entertainment 

by Steve 

Warner. The hotel is 

offering a special rate 

at 38.50€ per room 

including breakfast. 

Our trips to Benidorm 

for three 

nights in March 

and to the Greek 

Isles and Turkey in 

April/May are both 

sold out. 

Special announcement. 

Tickets are going fast 

for the trip to Salamanca, 

Segovia, 

Avila and Oledo - 

3 nights bed and 

breakfast 210€ on 

24 th -27 th June . 

We are investigating 

a trip to Cantabria 

in the Autumn 

and maybe a holiday 

in Sardinia again - 

more information we 

hope in the next issue 

of the Chronicle. 

This is a great time to thank Patti, Teresa 

and Jo and the rest of the team at the 

Chronicle for their help in allowing us each 

month to have our programme printed. It 

is very much our window of opportunity to 

let a much wider readership know of our 

activities. Thank you guys. 

We are currently in discussion with the 

local emergency authorities to purchase 

some equipment for them from our current 

budget and we hope that this will be 

finalised shortly. We have decided that 

in 2013, PALS will donate all the monies 

collected will be added to the CAFÉ project 

as we are now so close to getting the 

ambulance fund to its target of 60,000€. 

We have asked the 112 team in Mazarrón 

to ascertain the exact figure required. We 

hope that we can get this vehicle as soon 

as possible, which will be an additional ambulance 

to the existing fleet. Incidentally 

these were all out during the Gota Fria in 

September and the area was relying on 

ambulances from adjoining towns to provide 

cover. 

PALS meet on the first Monday of each 

month at the Cultural Centre, Camposol at 

11.15am and would really like to see you 

there with ideas or questions, or you can 

call 626 460 465 with any queries. 

Tickets for all our events and our current 

programme are available at Saralara’s, 

Puerto de Mazarrón on Wednesdays 1.00- 

3.30pm or at Trevi Bar, Camposol B Saturdays 

11am-1.30pm. 

PALS wish everyone a Happy New Year 

and thank those who have supported us 

and look forward to seeing you and maybe 

some new faces at our forthcoming events 

which seem to be selling out well in advance, 

so it’s worth looking at the programme. 

Page 30 





After a short Christmas break, the Los 

Palacios Garden Volunteers are looking 

forward to starting the New Year, and there is 

lots to be done! The many projects undertaken 

so far have provided us with lots of plants and 

trees to admire, but now it is almost as much 

as we can cope with to maintain the different 

areas. Weeding is always hard work. This 

time of year all of the roses, and lots of 

other plants, must be pruned, so that we can 

have another glorious show in the spring. 

Many of the trees that have overgrown the 

footpaths are also being cut back to provide 

safe access. Our thanks to the council for 

agreeing to remove all of the green waste 

that we are creating to dispose of ecologically. 

Work continues on extending all the public 

areas. Special attention is being made in 

Parque Salud, (the large area opposite the 

Health Centre and by the shops). A stone 

monument has recently been added to this 

area (at least that won’t need pruning), and 

more gravel and plants provided around 

the edges, so this area should soon look 

like the park that it was planned to be. 

We know that it will take a long time, but our 

volunteers really do look forward to getting 

together, doing it bit by bit (poco a poco). 

Most enjoy the exercise, whilst all enjoy the 

friendship of the team. Anyone who joins in 

is made most welcome and they will enjoy the 

satisfaction of seeing a result for their effort. 

In 2013 our 

regular team 

w o r k e r s 

will be easy 

to spot, as 

most will be 

wearing the 

new bright 

yellow shirts, 

with the 

words Los 

Palacios 

Volunteer 

on the 

front. If you spot one working near 

you, please ask how you can help. All 

of them will be pleased to meet you. 

2013 will start with a new team leading the 

group, so no doubt new enthusiasm and new 

projects will result in Los Palacios looking even 

better. The new Chairman is Eddie Roberts, 

with Beryl Holland as Treasurer. Both of these 

people have already proved their dedication 

to improving Los Palacios, and I look forward 

to seeing the fruit of new ideas. As I am 

standing down, this will be my last report, 

so I would like to thank everyone for reading 

them and for the Chronicle for printing them 

all and wish all a prosperous New Year. 

Dave Senior Peake 

After a long period of being marginalised, 

we have worked hard to reach a position 

where we are now at least to some degree 

being recognized by the council and although 

there is emerging a pattern of regular 

meetings with the Mayor, it has became 

obvious to the CRA Committee that simply 

maintaining the status quo will not achieve 

much in the way of progress. 

It was therefore decided to change the rules 

that had previously prohibited the CRA from 

political involvement and as a result a CRA 

Political Sub Committee has been formed. 

The mandate of this group is to investigate 

the various options available before reporting 

their findings to the CRA Committee. 

The need for some influence within the 

Town Hall was highlighted by the attitude 

that has recently been showed by the council 

over concerns surrounding heavy commercial 

vehicles using the somewhat fragile 

temporary rambla crossing. After suffering 

for weeks the rigours and inconvenience of 

having to access the urbanisation by way of 

the totally inadequate D7 route, the rambla 

facility was considered as a godsend for 

those affected and so to have this resource 

threatened was understandably very worrying. 

The CRA made numerous attempts to make 

the council aware of the situation as well as 

requesting that the matter be promptly addressed. 

Emails from Chairman Bob Owen 

and others went unanswered and Tatiana 

at the council’s Camposol office made reports 

to the police, individual councillors 

and council technicians which brought no 

response. There was no apparent reaction 

until Bob Owen, complete with photographic 

evidence of the damage being caused, approached 

former prospective councillor Linda 

Biggs. Linda has subsequently been able 

to report that a council technician has instructed 

the relevant construction company 

to make the necessary repairs and provide 

signage displaying the weight limit. 

Although the fact that our normal point of 

contact, Councillor (Pepe) Gomez, was not 

available through ill health and our Mayoress 

had resigned, it is not acceptable that 

even Tatiana’s efforts on our behalf should 

be ignored. This episode suggests that the 

only feasible conduit 

to the council is by 

way of what is in effect 

an accommodating 

and politically well 

connected resident. 

There has for a while 

been a growing concern 

over a number of 

properties, or rather 

the land they occupy, 

having embargoes 

placed on them as a 

consequence of legal proceedings against 

the urbanizations developer, Masa. The fact 

is that any residence without an escritura 

is at risk of falling into this category. The 

outcome of no escritura being issued is that 

the records at the land registry will show 

that the relevant land is owned by Masa and 

therefore is considered as an asset of that 

company subject to be sold to satisfy any 

court registered debts. Before Masa would 

be able to issue an escritura, the debt that 

resulted in the embargo will have to be settled 

or re-assigned to another asset. 

Further information and advice is available 

to members. Membership can be obtained 

from our website, by email or by visiting the 

CRA Cabin on Monday, Wednesday or Friday 

11am-1pm. 

Website: www.cracamposol.com 

Email: info@cracamposol.com 






Page 31


Crowning the Queen 

Ana Cristina Hernández Lopez, 21, from 

Mazarrón, representing the football club 

“Atlético Mazarrón”, was recently elected 

Queen of the Festivities of Mazarrón in an 

exciting gala held in la Plaza del Convento. 

The finalist, and Bridesmaid was the young 

Almudena Navarro Sanchez, who is 18 

representing the chiringuito “El Polvorín”. 

The gala was presented by journalist and 

TV presenter, Encarna Talavera, who was 

accompanied by the Seven Radio announcer 

Pepe Mateo. The judges were, the press 

officer of Fuente Alamo, Ana Belen Garcia 

and reporters Ismael Galiana, Ascension 

Tenza, Antonio Beltran, stylists David 

Cores and Lali Cánovas and producer 

of “Popular Television” Carlos Carrero . 

The night also featured a performance by the 

artist Angel Capel who, boasting a magnificent 

voice sang several songs, dazzling the 

hundreds of people who packed the marquee. 

The following day the marquee was full whilst 

choosing the child Queen. As is tradition, the 

fate decided that this title should go to the girl 

Maria del Mar Herreros Solano and the title of 

Mister Child was Alejandro Acosta Solano. The 

Queen was crowned by the Mayor of Mazarrón, 

Ginés Campillo, who was accompanied by 

Councillors Juan Miguel Muñoz and Isidro 

Coy. During the children’s party there was 

a performance by Dance School “Antonio 

Jara” The Dance Studio “Terpsicore” and the 

collective “Murcia Dance”. 

Convivencia Rociera 

6 December saw the 5 th meeting of Rociero 

Groups from the Murcia region in which dozens 

of people came from all corners of the region, 

many of them daring to dress in Rociero 

costume to participate in this festival and were 

rewarded with a beautiful sunny and warm day. 

The meeting started with a Mass at the 

Santuario de La Purísima in honour of 

the Rociero patron, with the group “Aires 

de Mazarrón” and was officiated by the 

Priest of the Parish of San Andrés Apóstol 

y San Antonio de Padua, Julio Romero. 

After the Mass, the Priest blessed a 

beautiful carving of the Virgen del Rocío. 

A large number of those present during the 

service, included the Mayor of Mazarrón, 

Ginés Campillo, Councillor of Celebration, 

Isidro Coy, Councillor for Social Policy, Maria 

Martinez, the Queen of the Patron Saints 

Youth 2012 Ana Christina Hernandez, and her 

“dame”, Fatima Sanchez who all posed next to 

“Blanca Paloma” to immortalize the moment. 

The image of the Virgin opened the parade 

with the different Rocieros groups finishing 

in the marquee in the Plaza del Convento. 

All participants were served a giant paella 

which was provided by “El Tirol”, followed by 

Sevillanas dancing well into the afternoon. 

The night ended with a performance of the 

group “Al Relente”. 

Levante Walk 

Despite predictions of a cold day, the 

weather gave the walkers who participated 

in the last “Travesía del Privilegio” one of 

those Mazarrón winter days where the sun 

is warm and friendly with visibility enabling 

everyone to enjoy the view; an exceptional 

day for an exceptional activity marking the 

demarcation of our town 440 years ago. 

Seventy walkers braved the 28 miles from 

Travesía de Levante, the hardest walk 

because of the terrain. They started in Campo 

Nubla along to Mojon de Isla Plana. During 

the tour the walkers passed through the 

Margajón and reached the 713 meters in the 

Sierra del Algarrobo, the highest point of the 

municipality. Hikers crossed the Sierra from 

Hoya de los Morenos rising to Lomachón visiting 

the Fuente de la Alameda, before descending 

to Camping de las Torres and El Mojon. 

A particular source of delight was the 

panoramic view from the top of Algarrobo; 

to the east, all the way to the Mar Menor 

and mountains of Orihuela; to the south, 

the coast of Murcia and the entire west, to 

Cabo de Gata. Inland the glittering snow 

claimed the attention of La Sagra Peak. Such 

visibility is exceptional even for this place. 

A noteworthy participation of walkers was 

Francisco Gonzalez from Mazarrón, known as 

“Parrillas”. This 77 year old completed all three 

“Travesías del Privilegio” and, incidentally, he 

did better than many other participants of 

younger years! 

Library Day 

5 December was “el Día de las Librerías” in 

Puerto de Mazarrón with a lively yet simple 

ceremony held at the doors of the library 

“Calle Mayor”, attended by the Councillor for 

Culture of the City, Mary Celeste Soria, and 

the Mayor of Commerce, David Fernandez. 

Representing participating libraries, Francisco 

Aparicio thanked the Town Hall for “el Día de 

las Librerías”. 

The event, attended by about twenty people, 

gave life to the main street of Puerto de 

Mazarrón where some passers by were 

curious to see what was happening. Those 

present spoke about their favourite books and 

encouraging others to start reading. Some 

even read a few paragraphs of their favourite 

books and exchanged views about writers, 

literary classics and current bestsellers. 

Councillor for Culture, Maria Celeste Soria, 

said “I personally borrow books from 

Page 32 





libraries and can say that there are many 

citizens of Mazarrón who like reading” and 

advocated the necessity of “repeating such 

meetings to encourage this habit among 

the citizens”. Meanwhile, David Fernandez, 

Mayor of Commerce, said that “with this, we 

promote culture, as well as promoting trade 

in Mazarrón, which has our full support in 

repeating this initiative”. 

Street Inauguration 

An inauguration of the street Diego Celdrán 

Atiénzar “El Molinero” took place on 7 December 

by the Sports Hall “La Aceña” in Mazarrón. 

The honoree himself was accompanied by 

family and friends during the ceremony 

with a plate being un-covered that names 

the street. The event was attended by the 

Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Urban Development, 

Francisco Garcia, and Queen of the Patron 

Saints Youth 2012, Ana Cristina Hernandez. 

According to the Mayor, “the City has 

chosen to dedicate this tribute to Diego 

Celdran for being a businessman who 

has promoted economic development 

in Mazarrón”. The 81 year old honoree, 

thanked the consistory for this gesture. 

Diego Celdrán Atiénzar popularly known as “El 

Molinero”, was orphaned at an early age and 

subsequently become the head of a family 

of seven siblings, and due to the economic 

environment took a grocery store in Calle 

Convento. In the 50’s, he undertook various 

businesses although at a very difficult time. 

Painting Competition 

The Plenary Hall of the Town Hall hosted the 

awards ceremony of the 10 th International 

Children’s Painting Competition on “Aqualia”. 

Cristina Fernandez Molina of CEIP “Francisco 

Caparros” School in Mazarrón and Ziortza 

Pedraza Fernandez of the College “Bahia” in 

Puerto de Mazarrón were winners of prizes 

consisting of an interactive world map which 

were presented by the Mayor of Mazarrón, 

Ginés Campillo, Miguel Angel Jimenez, CEO 

of “Aqualia” in Murcia, and Agapito Perez, 

head of the water company in Mazarrón. 

The competition had the theme “Un 

Sobresaliente para Ti, Un sobresaliente para 

el planeta” and had a dual purpose; continuing 

showing the young people the value of 

water and the importance of consuming it 

responsibly and bringing smiles to children 

hospitalized within the Theodora Foundation 

programme called “Smiles of Emergency.” 

The event was attended by children from 3rd 

and 4th Grade Primary Schools in Spain, Italy 

and Portugal. During the ceremony, “Aqualia” 

gave a copy of the winning entries to the 

two schools of the girls, the Mazarrón Town 

Council and also to the two winners. 

Cartagena Table Tennis Championship 

Wednesday 28 November saw the Cartagena 

Table Tennis Championship take place in the 

Sports Centre “Cuatro Santos” organized by the 

Sports Federation for people with intellectual 

disabilities in the Region of Murcia (Fedemips). 

It involved a group of young people from 

the Day Centre for People with Disabilities 

of Mazarrón, achieving remarkable results. 

Jaime Lara Ortiz came 2 nd in their group while 

Inmaculada Gómez Martínez finished 3 rd in 

their group. Terry Harris and Fabian Enrique 

Ortega Carvajal finished 1 st in their groups 

and finally, Juan Teruel Rodríguez was 4 th . 

This championship is an activity that 

is not only fun, but also because it 

benefits the competitors, improving 

the quality of life, maintaining health 

and preventing the onset of diseases. 

Councillor for Social Policy of Mazarrón Town 

Hall, Maria Martinez, said “We are very proud 

of the results obtained by our youth from 

the Day Centre. We must also applaud the 

participation and collaboration support from 

Jesus Catevilla. I want to send him my 

thanks for his selfless work. “ 

Excursion in Mazarrón 

Mines of San Cristobal and Los Perules 

Sundays from 10am-1pm 

10€ per person 

South Coast / Calas 

Ask for information 


Cultural Town Tour 



Caves of Plomo/Gravera de Las Moreras 



Aljezares Valley 



East Coast/Isla Plana/La Azohía/Cabo Tiñoso 

(Castillitos) 



Mazarrón Excursions 

With guides in Spanish, English 

Tel 627 619 455 (information and booking) 

Museums/Historic Buildings in Mazarrón 

Museo Arqueológico - Free 

Calle La Torre corner of Calle San Ginés) 

Puerto de Mazarrón 

Tel 968 595 242 

Wed-Sat 10am-1pm & 5pm-8pm 

Sunday10am-1pm 

Museo Fenicio - Free 

Centro de Interpretación del barco fenicio 

Avenida Tierno Galván 

Wed-Sat 10am-1pm & 5pm-8pm 

Sunday 10am-1pm 

Museo de los Caballos - Free 

Centro de interpretación del Milagro 

Bolnuevo (Torre de los Caballos) 

Frid 5pm-8pm 

Sat 10am-1pm & 5pm-8pm 

Sun 10am-1pm 

Casas Consistoriales - Free 

Edificio Histórico 

Plaza del Ayuntamiento 

Mazarrón 

Mon-Sat 10am-2pm (closed last Sat of 

month) 

Thurs and Fri also 5pm-8pm 






Page 33

Well here we are in the New Year! After 

a very well attended and fun Christmas 

Party - thanks to Santa for taking the time 

out of his busy December schedule to call 

in - we now have lots to look forward to 

in our 2013 calendar. It has been great to 

meet so many new “friends” in 2012! 

We start the New Year with our first 

meeting on Thursday January 10 th at 2pm 

at the Cultural Centre on Camposol B with 

a gentle introduction to yoga and a chance 

to look at our general well being. There 

will also be an opportunity to try directed 

meditation and relaxation - just what we 

need to start the year off well! 

Chatterbox Ladies’ Group meets on 

Camposol in the Cultural Centre on the 

2 nd Thursday of each month. If you would 

like further information please contact 

Rosemary Scott on 619 575 463 or Chris 

Leiper on 968 199 418 or just turn up on 

January 10 th . We look forward to seeing 

you! 

Chatterbox “SEW and SEW” is a group 

for anyone who would like to meet with 

other sewing or craft work enthusiasts 

(not necessarily very experienced!) to 

work together, chat and enjoy a cuppa! 

We meet every 2 nd Monday 2.30-4.30pm 

in the Cultural Centre. Next meeting 14 th 

January. 

Biggest Production To Date 

Teatro Canovero (The Los Canovas 

Players) announce their biggest production 

to date to be performed on Friday, 

February 1 st , Saturday, February 2 nd and 

Sunday, February 3 rd at the Salon Theatre 

in Los Canovas. Curtain up will be at 8pm 

on each night. 

The play called “Play On” by Rick Abbot 

is a very funny comedy about an amateur 

drama group’s trials and tribulations during 

rehearsals and opening night of their 

“murder/mystery” play set in the 1930’s. 

This production has a total of 10 actors 

on stage playing in front of a full set (and 

hopefully a full house!) together with 

the back stage staff, lighting and sound 

technicians and front of house staff. This is 

truly the biggest production we have done 

to date and hope to follow it up with similar 

plays. 

As is usual, refreshments will be available 

in the auditorium at reasonable cost before 

curtain up, during the interval and at the 

end of the play. There is ample street 

parking around the Salon. 

Tickets are available now for only 5€ each 

and for further information or if you want 

to join us on or off stage contact Roger 

on 968 151 149/660 851 064 or email 

loscanovasplayers@gmail.com. 

Come along, cheer yourself up and enjoy 

“Play On” during one of these cold winter 

evenings. 


On behalf of the The Lion’s Club of 

Mazarrón Bahia we would like to thank 

everyone who has supported us during 

2012 and take the opportunity of wishing 

everyone much happiness and good health 

for the coming year. 

The work of the Lions of Mazarrón 

continued with an extremely busy 

November and December with our ‘Carrier 

of Happiness’ appeal and the ‘Operational 

Kilo’ at Consum supermarket on Camposol 

B. We have been delighted with the public 

support with both these appeals. Cruz 

Roja en Mazarrón were thrilled that we 

were able to give several deliveries of food 

to help in their support of the families of 

the Mazarrón area. We also had an urgent 

appeal for milk and juice during December 

and it was decided that The Lions Club 

would purchase these necessary items 

to help in their support in these difficult 

times. Cruz Roja are always grateful for 

any non-perishable items. 

We were able to bring some happiness to 

225 children, with presents being given to 

Mazarrón Social Services and Cruz Roja for 

the children they support. The Lions were 

also able to deliver a further 100 presents 

with the help of Papa Noel at a special 

event on 22 nd December. 

On a different note, we would like to invite 

everyone to an evening of enjoyment 

with a Country and Western Theme Night 

of dancing to the fabulous Brady Bunch 

Tickets at Mariano’s Restaurant, Camposol 

A on Friday 25 th January 2013. 

Do you have any unwanted items of brica-brac 

or books etc for us to sell at our 

weekly stall held every Friday at Camposol 

B in order that we may continue with our 

work? We would be very grateful for any 

donations. 

As always The Lions of Mazarrón Bahia 

would like to thank everyone for all their 

support. We could not do it without you. 

Our grateful thanks to you all “HELP US TO 

HELP YOU”. 

Page 34 









Page 35


Well, here 

we are at the 

final letter of 

the alphabet! 

The letter 

Z, which 

is called 

“ceta”, is 

pronounced 

the same as 

the letter C 

when it is 

found before 

an E or an I, 

that is as a soft, unvoiced “th” sound. The 

Z is always spoken in this way in standard 

European Spanish, although in South 

American Spanish it is pronounced as an 

S, as it is in some areas of Spain, notably 

Andalucía. 

There do not seem to be too many related 

words between English and Spanish 

beginning with Z, one of the few being 

“zoo” from “zoológico”, so rather than 

pursue that line I have decided to look at a 

succession of Z words which create a rather 

mixed bag of vocabulary of general, cultural 

and linguistic interest! 

Let’s start with one all film-goers will be 

familiar with, the word “zorro” (fox) 

which is of course the name of the mythical 

character played in the film by the gorgeous 

Antonio Banderas. The female of “zorro”, 

namely “zorra”, therefore means “vixen”, 

but is actually used in the same way as we 

use “bitch”, that is to mean a not very nice 

lady. If you hear the words “¡Qué zorra!” 

(What a bitch!), walk away quickly and 

hope it is referring to someone else! Many 

of us will have heard of the word “zoco” 

as it is the name given to one or two 

open street markets along the Costas. In 

fact “zoco” means an Arab style market. 

“Zarzuela” is a lovely word. It means a 

type of Spanish light opera or operetta, 

which emerged as an alternative to classical 

opera in Madrid in the 17th century. It still 

has a big following in Spain. “Zarzuela” 

is also the name of the palace where the 

king of Spain lives. There is a type of fish 

stew called “zarzuela”, although I prefer 

to think that the king lives in the “operetta 

palace” rather than the “fish stew” palace! 

You might be interested to know that the 

Shetland Islands are spelt with a Z in 

Spanish: “Las Islas de Zetlandia”. A 

curious word for “left-handed” is “zurdo” 

and equally curious is the word “zueco” 

which means “clog” as in wooden shoe. 

You may not be aware that the “zueco” is 

worn quite commonly in northern Spain. It 

is a wooden shoe with a heel and two front 

stilts on the bottom about three centimetres 

in height. Many of the small villages in 

Asturias have cobbled paths which get 

muddy from rain and cattle. There the 

villagers leave their “zuecos” (which they 

call “madreñas”) along with their large 

black umbrella in the front porch of the 

house and enter wearing the slippers that 

they also wear inside the “zueco”. There is 

a whole art to making these items by hand 

as well which you can still see today. 

A brand new Z word introduced into 

the Spanish language in recent years is 

“zapear”. This means to “zap”, yes, what 

you do with those remote controls whilst 

laying supine on the sofa. The word has 

obviously been imported for English and the 

“-ear” ending has turned it into a standard 

Spanish verb, although I don’t think you’ll 

find it in any traditional dictionaries with 

this meaning just yet. 

A Z word that appears in the Spanish news 

quite regularly is “zulo”, which means an 

“arms cache”. These get discovered from 

time to time, usually by the Guardia Civil 

in their operations against the terrorist 

organization ETA. When they announce the 

discovery of another “zulo” this is always 

good news. A word which I think sounds 

similar, although you may not agree, is 

“zurrón”. This is means a bag and always 

conjures up the picture to me of one of those 

“swag bags” that thieves are supposed 

to carry. I think this is because many 

years ago my children had a cautionary 

story book about a travelling man who put 

a little girl into a “zurrón” and took her 

away from her village. I think the story 

traumatized me much more than it did them. 

Another Z word associated with fairy 

stories, in my mind at least is “zampar”. 

This means to “gobble up” and is what 

wolves do to grandmothers and the like. 

Still in the world of children, but also 

with other connotations, is the word 

“zancadillla”. “Hacer la zancadilla” 

literally means to “trip someone up” by 

deliberately putting your foot in their way 

and making them fall over. Incidentally, 

if you look up the word in Google images 

you will see lots of pictures of naughty 

footballers tripping each other up and 

one lovely picture of a couple of penguins 

appearing to do the same thing! 

Now for that last Z word which you never 

wanted or needed to know, “zanja” 

meaning “ditch”. You never know, you 

might be grateful for that information one 

day. 

Jane Cronin, Spanish Classes and Talks. 

www.janecronin.eu 

Tel 968 183 258 

Page 36 









Page 37


Help for English Speaking Victims of 

Domestic Violence 

The British Consulate and the Subdelegación 

del Gobierno held an event to help English 

speaking residents and tourists access 

the support that is available for victims of 

domestic violence. 

Domestic violence offences account for 

around 30% of the arrests that the British 

Consulate is informed about, and the 

province of Alicante currently has nearly 200 

British nationals who are receiving some 

kind of police protection having filed a report 

against domestic violence, which is why that 

Consulate was keen to make sure that all 

potential victims know where to turn. 

The event was opened by the British Consul, 

Paul Rodwell and the Delegada del Gobierno, 

Paula Sánchez de León. Their message 

was that it is essential to remove any fear 

or stigma around the issue and to help 

all victims, including English speakers, to 

access the extensive support network that 

exists already. 

Mr Rodwell said “As part of our objective 

to assist the vulnerable, I want to make 

sure that British nationals are aware of the 

support that the Spanish state provides 

for victims of domestic violence. We are 

experiencing a worrying trend and it is very 

important that victims know that they can 

call the domestic violence helpline 016 and 

get through to someone English speaking. 

The social services, courts and women’s 

centres can also offer a wide range of 

support mechanisms to help victims cope.” 

During the event, local English speaking 

associations, such as RBL, Samaritans, 

HELP Benidorm and HELP Marina Alta and 

Women in Business, had the opportunity 

to hear about the different services that 

are available and how to access them, as 

well as a chance to meet the local Spanish 

authorities who offer the support. 

Here is a useful checklist of available 

resources. For more detail, visit 

residenteseuropeos.com: 

Emergency Services Helpline 112 if you 

feel you are in danger. 

Call the national Domestic Violence 

Hotline 016 for professional advice on 

support and services available. 

To make a report: 

062 – Civil Guard police 

091 – National Police 

Domestic Violence Court 

Local Duty Court 

For advice without making a report: 

Town Hall Social Services. 

Women’s Centres 24-hours tel 900 58 08 

88 

Infodona Centres (35 centres throughout 

Valencian region) tel 902 011 029 

Assistance to Victims of Crime offices (in 

local courts) 

Comprehensive information guide on welfare 

rights for victims of gender-based violence, 

which can be accessed, in English and 

Spanish, at www.residenteseuropeos. 

com 

(photos) 

Investigation into ‘Boiler Room’ Fraud 

Leads to 22 Arrests in Spain 

Ten British nationals were among 22 people 

arrested in Spain as part of an investigation 

into an organised crime group believed to 

be responsible for defrauding hundreds of 

victims of over eight million Euros. 

The multi-agency investigation, led by the 

Spanish National Police and supported by the 

Serious Organised Crime Agency and City of 

London Police, also resulted in the seizure 

of four firearms, ammunition and 367,000€. 

Officers believe that members of the crime 

group operated a ‘boiler room’ fraud in 

which intensive telephone campaigns were 

carried out to persuade over 200 members 

of the British public to put their savings into 

investment packages that did not exist. 

During searches of addresses in Barcelona 

and other Catalan provinces, officers 

also recovered seven false UK passports, 

numerous computers, hard drives, USB 

sticks, mobile telephones, lists of potential 

clients and manuals on how to get people to 

part with their money. 

Ian Milne, SOCA’s Head of Operations in 

Europe, said: “Working with partners to 

protect members of the public is a priority 

for SOCA. We believe this organised crime 

group was running a sophisticated and 

complex ‘boiler room’ fraud. Shutting it 

down has put a stop to more members of 

the public being duped into parting with 

their hard earned cash.” 

Enquiries have revealed that the alleged 

perpetrators used false identification 

documents, travelled constantly, changed 

addresses regularly, and used the name of a 

non-profit making company to open current 

accounts with various banks. The 22 people 

have been charged with being part of an 

organised crime group, as well as with fraud 

offences. Five of the British nationals were 

remanded in custody and the others were 

released on bail. 

Spanish Launch of New International 

Initiative to Tackle Travelling Child Sex 

Offenders from the UK 

A new international initiative to prevent UK 

sex offenders travelling to other countries 

and gaining access to children through 

teaching or volunteering roles was launched 

in Spain. Specialist Spanish officers tackling 

child sexual abuse have shared their 

expertise and experience of combatting 

this crime with staff from the UK’s Child 

Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) 

Centre during a two-day law enforcement 

workshop, which included the launch of the 

International Child Protection Certificate. 

Page 38 









Page 39


Summary of 

Georgina’s 

story 

Georgina’s 

story was 

written at 

her request 

in November 

2012 as 

a warning 

to other expats 

living 

in Spain. Although she herself has now returned 

to the UK, at the time of writing her 

husband was still alive and this brief summary 

of her story is her warning that much 

of this need not have happened. 

Briefly, Georgina and her husband had been 

in Spain for over 30 years, living in the countryside 

in a home they built themselves, 

having arrived in Spain as fit and healthy 

early retirees in their 50’s. Things were fine 

until they reached their late 70’s, by which 

time their isolated location and reduced 

mobility left them vulnerable, needing help 

from other people for shopping, paying bills 

and medical appointments. They became 

dependent on a home-help, who did all their 

shopping, cleaning and cooking for them, 

and although social services and friends 

were concerned that their isolation and failing 

health left them vulnerable, Georgina’s 

husband declined any other offers of help. 

He knew he was ill. What we don’t know for 

sure is whether he knew he had cancer and 

didn’t tell his wife or didn’t know he had cancer. 

Georgina says the hospital letters didn’t 

arrive, that the home-help who was picking 

up their mail didn’t give them to him. Georgina 

says he didn’t know. Nobody will ever 

know the truth because her husband, intransigent 

and dominant all his life, had became 

so ill he was taken to hospital, diagnosed 

with secondary cancer and has not been lucid 

for several months. 

Shortly before that happened, Georgina and 

her husband had been taken (separately) to 

the notary to give the home-help authorisation 

to draw out money to pay their bills and 

do their shopping. Georgina says that’s what 

she thought she had signed when she went 

to the notary, but in fact she had given the 

home-help full power of attorney over their 

joint bank account, and over their affairs, 

having signed a different power of attorney 

from that signed by her husband. 

All this only came to light when Georgina’s 

daughter arrived from England, called by a 

concerned friend who was upset to see the 

couple living in filth, the home-help failing 

to clean and shop, the husband ill and the 

couple showing obvious signs of neglect and 

when she went to the notary to reverse the 

power of attorney, discovered that not only 

was the bank account empty, but the couple’s 

home had been transferred legally into 

the name of the home-help, which meant it 

would become her full property when they 

died. This couldn’t be reversed, as the husband 

was not considered compos mentis. 

Georgina, aged 83, became dependent on 

local charities and the goodwill of volunteers 

to help with her daily needs, refusing 

to leave her home and go to England to 

her daughter whilst her husband still lived. 

She was a ‘sitting duck’ when a hooded man 

broke into her isolated home in the middle of 

the afternoon, beating her sofa with a stick 

and demanding money. As she had none, he 

took her wedding ring off her hand and her 

mobile phone, coming back the next night 

and trashing the house, stealing anything 

that was saleable. 

By this point, Georgina was sleeping on the 

sofa of her pool cleaner and she was advised 

by the police not to return to her home and 

with nowhere else to go, finally, flights were 

paid for by someone who knew her situation, 

and she was taken back to the UK. Her 

husband remained in the hospital, lost to the 

world, without so much as a funeral plan to 

bury himself. 

There are many other facets to this history; 

a difficult family relationship; a stubborn 

nature refusing to accept the onset of 

age, and sadly, the ambiguity over how the 

home-help obtained the legal ownership of 

the couple’s house. Sadly, there are no witnesses 

to the truth and it is highly unlikely 

that Georgina will ever be able to return to 

Spain to seek justice. 

Sadly, there are so many ‘what if’s’, which 

could have prevented much of this even 

happening. 

The full story can be read on 

www.murciatoday.com. Type the word 

Georgina into the word search box for the 

full text. 

www.murciatoday.com/georginasstory_13935-a.html 

Georgina Fund 

Sponsored Walk 

Organised by Mark & Cady Langton from La 

Mariposa Hotel and led by Bob Shoesmith, 

a 3 hour walk was conducted through the 

Sierra Espuña Mountains on 14 th December 

in aid of the Georgina Fund. The fund 

has now raised in excess of 1760€ and on 

the day, the walk raised over 200€. There 

are some monies being paid direct into the 

overall fund, so it is hard to say exactly how 

much the walk raised in total. 

Many thanks to all those who attended the 

walk and who have donated money to the 

fund, including Ian Field who has donated 

€80 by running fitness classes. More donations 

can be left at the GOmad Shop in 

Mazarrón or at Costa Cálida International 

Radio or you can donate via a special PAY- 

PAL account which has been set up swift@ 

murciasur.org. If you are leaving a cash 

donation please put in an envelope marked 

“Georgina Fund”. 

The target fund is €2,500 and at the time of 

going to print the total was already €1,760. 

Page 40 





XXI 

agendas escolares • diseño gráfico • catálogo de productos • displays 

folletos publicitarios • carteles • calendarios • libros • papelería corporativa 

Pol Ind. Marimingo - C/. Campo de Cartagena, 27 - 30180 BULLAS (Murcia) Telf./Fax: 968 654 007 

entornograf@entornograf.com • www.entornograf.com 





Page 41

Royal British Legion Award at Orihuela 

Costa 

At a recent meeting of the Orihuela Costa and 

District Branch of the Royal British Legion, 

one of the members received a District 

Award. These awards are presented to those 

members who have given Service above 

and beyond the normal call of duty. 

It came as 

a complete 

surprise 

to Eddie 

Coleman 

who is Vice 

Chairman of 

the Branch, 

when he was 

asked to 

step forward 

and receive 

a framed 

certificate 

from Chris 

Wyatt, the 

District 

North Spain 

Chairman. 

Chris read 

out the numerous ways Eddie has helped 

the Branch in recent years, including being 

responsible for organising and building the 

Garden of Remembrance at Mil Palmeras 

Church, as well as constructing a saluting 

dais for visiting dignitaries. Chris said he was 

delighted to present Eddie with the certificate 

which showed his undoubted support for the 

Legion and its motto of Service not Self. 

Orihuela Costa RBL 2012 Poppy Appeal 

The Orihuela Costa and District Branch 

of The Royal British Legion would like 

to thank everyone in the area for their kind 

donations towards this year’s Poppy Appeal. 

The total of €28,688.47 and again was the 

highest the Branch has raised since it was 

formed in 2008. 

Your donations will go a long way towards 

helping dependents of service personnel who 

have been killed in all conflicts. Also to those 

who have been injured, have fallen on hard 

times or sickness and require help from our 

welfare departments. 

Keith Carter Branch Chairman said this was 

a great result bearing in mind the economic 

situation that everyone is in. It goes to show 

how people still hold in great esteem our 

service men and women past and present. 

The money raised in Spain remains in the 

country to help welfare cases. Any money 

that is not used at the end of each year is 

sent to the United Kingdom to help boost 

their funds. 

Keith also said he would like to thank all of the 

Branch Members who helped in collections, 

distributed Poppy Boxes, organised events 

and golf tournaments. Without their hard 

work throughout the year this amount would 

not have been achievable. 

The Orihuela Costa and District Branch 

meet at The Olympia Restaurant Mil Palmeras 

every 3 rd Thursday of the month, 7 for 

7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and 

join. You DO NOT have to be ex-service to 

do so. For more information visit our website 

www.orihuelacostarbl.com 


You will be reading this just before, or just 

after the festive season and we at Rainbow 

Satellites hope you have had a great festive 

time and we wish you all the best for 2013. 

All is well at the Rainbow encampment. 

Everything seems winterised – slow and dull, 

but it will not be long before that magnificent 

almond blossom is out and spring really 

starts. 

TV NEWS 

Of course the story on everyone’s lips is the 

satellite change over and how it will affect us. 

The problem with the newsletter is that there 

are days between writing and publishing, and 

the situation seems to change on a daily, 

if not hourly, basis. Certainly some of the 

changes have taken place (ALL the 5’s, 4’s 

even, 4HD and most ITV’s) and these seem 

to have had little effect on us in the Murcia 

region. Some of you with smaller dishes may 

have lost some channels, but in general all 

seems well for the changes that have been 

made – unlike our distant neighbours down 

the coast towards Malaga and Portugal who 

seem to have lost all channels that have 

moved, but then they did have it much easier 

than us for years using smaller dishes than 

we needed. 

However, there are still changes to come (BBC 

in particular) and the effects those changes 

will have are unknown. It would seem that the 

new “F” satellite we have all been “dreading” 

does not transmit the lower frequencies that 

the channels who have not swapped use. 

Will they change all the frequencies to higher 

Page 42 

unused ones - a major task as all boxes would 

need re-programming either automatically 

(but a difficult task with all the makes and 

models of boxes), or manually, but that would 

need specific instructions to consumers - or 

will they wait for the new “E” satellite due in 

early spring 2013? Apparently this will be 

delayed as the Kazakhstan launch site/vehicle 

has had major problems. (They released 

a satellite 4 minutes early last week – not 

much you may think, but in ‘space speed’ 

terms an eternity. Just think if your aircraft 

pilot landed four minutes before scheduled 

touchdown!) We understand launches are 

postponed whilst investigations take place. 

There are other launch sites, but these are 

fully booked with other satellite launches. 

The problem with our UK TV situation is that 

the satellite the BBC and others still use – “N” 

– is urgently required at a new location (19E) 

for other countries’ transmissions and needs 

to move soon. 

Sorry, lots of techy stuff and talk and some 

rumour which doesn’t answer the question 

“What about our UK TV in the Murcia 

Region?” but I am afraid we just don’t have 

the final answers yet. Don’t believe all the 

“bar talk” you hear. Most of it is unfounded 

rubbish by people who are just not in the 

know! – but I cannot give you definitive 

answers at the time of writing. 

I have just heard a STOP PRESS confirmed 

piece of information from the BBC direct (you 

can see it on their website). The BBC will not 

leave the “N” satellite until the second half 

of 2013 and will go to the “E” satellite (see 

above), so things would seem to be OK for 

the present and next few months. However, 

what “E” will mean to us will not be confirmed 

until it happens despite the bar talk! 

All of the above really applies to the FREESAT 

channels and there is still the matter of 

the SKY channels moving from “B” to, we 

think, “F”. However, from what we know 

to date we feel these will be all available 

in Murcia, including the SKY channels that 

have previously been “difficult” down here – 

movies, National Geographic etc. – a big plus 

for SKY viewers. 

We write the newsletter in good faith with 

the best information we can get in a VERY 

secretive world. The confirmed information 

above from the BBC is so unusual. Please 

don’t hold us responsible for any changes we 

do not predict or get wrong! 

Finally, SKY NEWS, PICKTV and CHALLENGE 

TV have all been added to the FREESAT line 

up – find them at FREESAT 202, 144 and 

145 respectively. Official FREESAT boxes 

will have tuned them automatically – non 

FREESAT boxes will need a manual retune. 

Article sponsored by Rainbow Satellites, 

the company for ALL your TV needs in the 

Murcia region. Contact Alan or Matt for free 

friendly advice at rainbowsats@gmail.com 

Tel (0034) 686 358 475 

Web site www.rainbowsats.org 





LA MOLATA, LOS MUÑOCES, CAÑADAS DE 

ALHAMA 

A very Happy New Year to our patrons from 

all at Cálida Country, and a great big Thank 

You for your support over the last twelve 

months! Hope you all had a great Christmas! 

December 21 st with the ever popular Red 

Strokes, gave us all a fantastic night’s pre- 

Christmas entertainment, complete with 

traditional mince pies and a ‘seasonal’ giftwrapped 

mystery raffle. Combining this with 

the superb offers available from ‘Cody’s 

Country’ C&W western wear stall made sure 

that there was ‘something for everybody’, and 

not a few Christmas gifts changed hands 

Friday 4 January 

Don’t forget that a brief Open Forum, designed 

to allow suggestions for the possible 

continued improvement of Cálida Country 

CMC to be heard, is to be held at the club from 

8pm on Friday 4 January, followed by a night 

of country music provided by the ‘Crooning 

Country’ CM Disco. Entry on this night will 

be just €5 per couple or €3 for ‘singles’. Don’t 

miss out! Put a note in your diary now! 

Friday 18 January 

Another 

night’s superb 

country 

music entertainment 

in store for 

you; this 

time in the 

company 

of fabulous 

local 

songstress, 

Christine 

King. Always a firm favourite at Cálida 

Country, this little lady is equally ‘at home’ 

with any style of music, but when she puts 

her Stetson on, it’s a case of ‘look out girls 

– you’ve got competition!’ Singing a mix of 

many CM Divas such as Shania Twain, Dolly 

Parton, Billie Jo Spears and many more, this 

is guaranteed be a night to remember. Entry 

for this night will be just €5 per couple or €3 

for ‘singles’. 

The club is located at the Social Club, La Molata, 

Los Muñoces. Take the exit just north of 

the Condado de Alhama (Polaris World) exit, 

located just off the RM32/MU 603, (signposted 

Venta Aledo & Los Muñoces). Only around 

10km from Camposol, it is a non-member 

club, and is a non-profit making organisation. 

A small entrance fee is charged to cover costs, 

and any excess is dedicated to the Community 

Ambulance Fund España (CAFE). 

The club currently meets twice monthly on 

the 1 st and 3 rd Fridays from 8pm. 

With the exception of January 18, the entrance 

fee on ‘live artist’ or ‘cabaret’ nights is 

€5 per person and just €5 per couple (€3 per 

single) on Country Disco nights 

Boasting a large dance floor, the venue is 

also a licensed premises, with drinks at Spanish 

prices and their hosts, Antonio & Cheryl, 

maintain a superb kitchen. The ‘fish and 

chips’ are, reportedly, ‘to die for!’ Advance 

bookings for meals are recommended and 

should be made direct to Cheryl on 619 003 

022 to avoid disappointment on the night. 

If you fancy a ‘bit of a boogie’ on a Friday 

night – or simply want to put into practice 

what you’ve been learning at your line dance 

classes, go along and give it a try! 

Just remember to...Keep It Country! 

For further information on what’s going on, 

contact… Mervyn Booth on 968 163 082 

or visit their Facebook page at: ‘CALIDA 

COUNTRY Country Music Club’ 





Page 43

Registered Charity Nº 8.714/1ª 

JJ’s Puppy Rescue Association is a Spanish 

Registered Charity with a Management 

Committee, Association Members, Volunteer 

Helpers and Foster Carers. 

Last month 

we rescued 

v a r i o u s 

abandoned 

puppies. We 

still have 25 

puppies and 

dogs in our 

care which all 

need a loving 

home as 

some of them 

have been in our foster kennels over three 

years with very little chance of being homed 

locally. To give these dogs the chance they 

deserve we 

a r e 

continuing 

our concerted 

effort to find 

homes for 

them abroad 

with the help 

of Rescue 

Organisations 

in the UK and 

Holland. The 

cost of Neutering, Blood Tests, Vaccinations, 

Micro-chips and Passports in preparation for 

these dogs to go to their new homes puts a 

huge strain on our available funds. To help us 

raise the funds for this additional cost we are 

dependent on public support and generosity. 

The Charity Shop in Puerto de Mazarrón is 

located near the Arbol Supermarket and is 

staffed entirely by volunteers. Any unwanted 

saleable items that can be sold in our charity 

shop or table top sales to raise funds will 

be gratefully received. We can arrange for 

donated items to be collected by one of our 

Association Members. We also need volunteer 

helpers who can give some of their free time 

to work in our Charity Shop, so if you would 

like to help come in and have a chat with the 

staff. 

For More Information or Collection 

of Donated Items Give One of Our 

Committee Members a Call 

Tony 618 034 921 

Mike 634 143 242 

Or call into our Charity Shop in Puerto de 

Mazarrón 

WeDoItAll4ThePuppies. 


Well, what a great year 2012 proved to be. 

From start to finish the year far exceeded 

my expectations, and as a Church, we are 

so thankful to all of you out there, who supported 

us, trusted us and who gave us opportunity 

to minister the love of God into 

our community. 

Most of our Church activities during the 

past year, apart from our weekly Sunday 

services, have taken place in the community; 

from midweek home groups, our Good 

Friday open air service on Mazarrón Paseo, 

the Camposol Fiesta, FAST Christmas Fayre, 

Remembrance Sunday Service on Camposol, 

to the Mazarrón Tanatorio Star Service and 

Christmas Carol Concerts on all four Camposol 

Sectors. We have so enjoyed being outside 

the walls of our Church building; this is 

what Church should really be about! 

When Wellspring Victory Church was 

formed seven years ago, we were determined 

to be a different kind of Church. 

Although the Victory family is made up of 

over 2000 Churches in over 40 Nations of 

the world, each individual Church reaches 

out in an individual way. The needs here 

in Spain are very different from that of some 

other nations and we wanted to be prepared 

to touch our community in whatever way we 

could. I believe that 2013 will not be an easy 

year for many here on the Costa Cálida, but 

as a fellowship, we will be out there among 

you, to do, with God’s help, whatever we 

can. 

I pray that you will have a blessed 2013; 

no doubt there will be difficulties and problems 

that will arise during the year, so I will 

end this article with Psalm 23; I trust it will 

bring you hope and peace for the coming 

year, [no matter what comes your way]. 

‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing’ 

– David acknowledges God as his shepherd 

King [carer and protector], and has full 

confidence in his future… in the King’s house 

there would be no lack. 

‘He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters’ 

- David would be content, and would experience 

security, rest and refreshment. Green 

pastures mean a place to flourish. 

‘He refreshes my soul, He guides me 

along the right paths for His name’s 

sake’ – The shepherd leads His sheep to 

safety and well-being. David’s life would be 

secure and safe as he followed the shepherd. 

‘Even though I walk through the darkest 

valley, I will fear no evil, for you are 

with me; your rod and your staff, they 

comfort me’ – David, even when surrounded 

by great peril, being with the shepherd 

would provide his support, care, protection 

and reassurance. 

‘You prepare a table before me in the 

presence of my enemies. You anoint my 

head with oil; my cup overflows’ – David 

would be fed at the Kings table – a place of 

protection, plenty and friendship; he would 

be the honoured guest. 

‘Surely your goodness and love will follow 

me all the days of my life, and I will 

dwell in the house of the Lord forever’ 

– David would experience the shepherd’s 

goodness and unfailing love and pursue him 

for the rest of his life. 

Some people say that it is difficult to find 

God. This Psalm tells us that God actually 

pursues us. In the words of Author Max 

Lucado ‘Dare we envision a mobile, active 

God who chases us, tracks us, following us 

with goodness and mercy all the days of our 

lives? He’s not hard to find’ 

God’s love for you is constant and unchanging. 

We at Wellspring wish everyone a happy 

and blessed New Year. 

Page 44 









Page 45

Christian Humanitarian Aid Charity in 

the Mazarron (Murcia) & Surrounding 

area 

This is the prompting that Started our 

MAD Journey …. 

Matthew 25 v 35-36 

“When I was Hungry you fed me, when I was 

Thirsty you gave me a drink, when I needed 

Clothes you clothed me, when I was a 

Stranger you invited me in, when I ……….……” 

God fills in the missing gaps. 

They won´t care how much you know, until 

they know how much you care! When 

Life’s heartfelt experiences are spilled out 

– we want them to know that no judgment 

will be made & the same caring faces are 

there when help is necessary. This is why at 

GOmaD, a consistent team is vital. If you 

would like to be one of these regular faces 

– then please let Amanda know & join our 

invaluable Outreach Team. If ‘face to face’ is 

not for you, then there are numerous behind 

the scenes GOmaD jobs that will help Make 

A Difference. 

WANTED 

Jewellery & Beaded/Wooden Curtains 

Any, including broken ones, are needed for 

future Women´s Craft Workshops! Maybe 

you have Craft/Sewing talents & skills that 

GOmaD does not ‘yet´ have! Come & share 

your GOD given talent & Help Make A Difference 

to someone’s life. 

Every Tuesday 11am-1pm, on Camposol A, 

Lower Car Park, one of GOmaD Vans will be 

parked awaiting your donations. For larger 

items or Furniture/ House Clearances call 

634 357 137 for collection. 

25% of the Nation is recorded as unemployed. 

There is a much higher % unknown! 

Many of GOmaD’s clients have been unemployed 

for 3or more years & with the increasing 

crisis, hope is hard to find. 

GOmaD wants to continue to Make A Difference 

– Please Help us achieve this. 

For more information on our Work in the 

Community: Call 634 357 137 

See our Facebook Page for update information: 

mad mazarron or email: 

madmazarron@live.com 


After 20 years on the market and over 

10 consecutive years as the stylist choice 

NIOXIN is the top product available for 

Preventative Hair Loss, Scalp Care & Hydration 

for you. 

When we have a medical problem we go 

to the doctor, a skin problem and we visit 

the dermatologist, but up until now there 

hasn’t been any local clinic to visit if we 

suffer from scalp & hair problems such as 

hair loss, thinning & scalp irritation. After 

formal training in Alicante Jane’s Salon 

is the only local Salon to offer a specialist 

hair loss clinic in the area offering 2 free 

demo evenings in January to answer any 

further questions. 

50% Of People, Male And Female, Will 

Experience Thinning Hair* 

This is a common problem and a huge 

source of stress. The truth about thinning 

hair is that 

it cannot 

be reversed 

with a cosmetic 

product, 

but 

with early 

detection, 

professional 

consultation, 

and 

advanced 

products 

and technologies, you can make the most 

of the hair you have. 

NIOXIN is the only system that uses the 

latest camera technology to diagnose your 

hair & scalp problems, closely looking at 

the follicle (root) of the hair and its health. 

More Than 70% of Users Notice Thicker, 

Fuller-Looking Hair in Just 30 Days. 

The No1 stylist-recommended thinninghair 

brand in the US, NIOXIN’S customised 

range of hair and scalp products are 

proven to deliver noticeably thicker, fullerlooking 

hair. 

Jane’s - Salon Services 

Making the most of the hair you have, begins 

with a consultation at Jane’s Salon, 

the official NIOXIN Salon. One of our fullyqualified 

therapists will be able to introduce 

you to the benefits of NIOXIN, talk 

through your needs and recommend a tailored 

solution. 

If you’ve never used NIOXIN before, we 

recommend a Complete Renewal Service. 

Carried out by an accredited stylist, the 

service includes: 

Consultation: This is where it all starts; a 

conversation about the causes of thinning 

hair and an assessment of your individual 

needs. 

Scalp Renew Density Protection: Regular 

use of this take-home treatment is recommended 

after Scalp Renew Dermabrasion 

Service. 

Scalp Renew Dermabrasion Treatment: 

This in-salon service is a great 

introduction to NIOXIN, and you will instantly 

feel the effects. 

NIOXIN 3-Part System: Your stylist will 

recommend the 3-Part System for your 

hair and scalp needs and it will be yours 

to take home. 

Page 46 









Page 47


Is it really 2013? Where does the time go? 

Christmas and all the celebrations are over 

and it’s time to think healthy again. I had 

some lovely comments about last year’s 

healthy options in January, so I thought 

I would try a few more. By making a few 

changes to a recipe or meal, you can 

reduce the fat or carbohydrate content. For 

example, the Walnut and Date Cake has 

Olive oil instead of Butter, Fructose Sugar 

which is lower in calories and Skimmed 

Milk, so much less fat. The Vegetable Curry 

is an easy recipe and a great way to use 

up left over vegetables. It is almost Fat 

Free and by making your own Curry Paste, 

you cut down on the carbohydrates. My 

favourite is the Beef Stew, cooking the Beef 

in Red Wine gives the meat lots of flavour 

and surprisingly reduces the calories as 

there are no thickening ingredients. 

Buen Apetito 

Vegetable Curry 

200g Basmati rice 

Any fresh or cooked vegetables 

5cm root ginger 

6 spring onions 

1-2 tbsp cardamom 

2 tbsp olive oil 

1tsp ground coriander 

1-2 tsp chilli paste 

1 tbsp soy sauce 

1 tbsp flaked almonds 

Put the rice in a pan with 600ml cold 

water and a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil 

and cook for 12 minutes or until the rice 

is tender but not sticky. Peel and cut the 

vegetables into bite sizes if using fresh. Peel 

and finely chop the ginger if using fresh and 

chop the spring onions. Heat the oil in a 

large pan and fry the vegetables, ginger 

and spring onions for 2 minutes. Add the 

cardamom, coriander and chilli paste and 

cook for a further minute. Stir in 100ml 

of cold water and simmer for a further 2 

minutes if using cooked vegetables. If 

using fresh vegetables, allow 20 minutes to 

simmer. Add Soy sauce and almonds at the 

last minute and serve with the rice. 

Roasted Peppers 

4 large red peppers 

4 plum tomatoes 

4 tbsp pesto 

4 tbsp olive oil 

1 tbsp pine nuts 

Black pepper 

Cut the peppers in half, remove the pith and 

seeds, wash and dry with kitchen towel and 

place in a shallow dish. Place the tomatoes 

in a bowl and cover with boiling water. 

Leave for 30 seconds, remove tomatoes, 

peel and cut into quarters. Place two 

tomato quarters inside each pepper half. 

Mix together the pesto and olive oil and 

drizzle over the peppers. Scatter the pine 

nuts and black pepper over the peppers 

and bake in over 180º for 45 minutes. 

Tuna and Sweetcorn Bake 

50g butter 

50g plain flour 

450 ml milk 

2 tsp lemon juice 

410g can sweetcorn 

185g tuna in sunflower oil 

25g parmesan cheese 

2 tbsp brown breadcrumbs 

Melt the butter in a pan, stir in flour and 

cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and 

gradually add milk. Return to heat and cook, 

stirring constantly until thick and smooth. 

Stir in lemon. Drain the sweetcorn and put 

in the bottom of an oven proof dish. Drain 

the tuna and flake over the sweetcorn, then 

pour the sauce over them both. Grate the 

cheese and mix with breadcrumbs before 

sprinkling over the sauce. Bake for 30 

minutes or until golden brown. 

Beef Stew in Red Wine 

1.4kg rump or chuck steak 

150ml red wine 

1 onion 

2 parsnips 

2 carrots 

3 garlic gloves 

3 parsley stalks 

8 black peppercorns 

Thyme 

30ml olive oil 

150ml beef stock 

Cut the beef into chunks and place in a bowl, 

pour in the wine and add the chopped onion 

and crushed garlic, thyme, peppercorns 

and parsley stalks. Leave in the fridge to 

marinate for 5-6 hours or overnight. Strain 

and retain the marinade liquid separately. 

Heat the oil in a large pan and gently fry the 

beef and onion mixture. Add the chopped 

the carrots and parsnips to the pan and 

cook for a further ten minutes. Pour in the 

beef stock and add the wine marinade and 

bring to the boil. Pour into a casserole dish 

and cook in an oven at 150º for 2-3 hours 

checking the liquid does not need topping 

up with water or stock. 

Walnut and Date Cake 

300g wholemeal self-raising flour 

1tsp mixed spices 

150g chopped dates (fresh is best) 

50g chopped walnuts 

60ml olive oil 

115g Fructose sugar 

300ml skimmed milk 

Walnut halves to decorate 

Mix the dates and walnuts with the flour 

and spices. In a separate bowl mix the 

oil, sugar and milk, then mix into the dry 

ingredients. Spoon into a prepared tin and 

arrange the halves of walnuts on the top. 

Bake in 180º oven for 45 to 50 minutes or 

until cooked. 

Page 48 





May we 

take the 

opportunity 

to wish you 

all a Happy 

New Year 

and may it 

bring you all 

happiness 

and good 

health. 

For further information please phone 620 

877 326 

Email beacon.of.light.murcia@gmail. 

com 

http://beaconoflightmurcia.webs.com 

or join us on facebook Beacon of Light 

Murcia 

We ended 

our year with a special Carol Service 

with guest medium Anna-Marie and John 

Sloman accompanying us with our carols. 

We will re-open on January 2 nd with Marilyn 

Webb. The month continues with Debbie 

Blevins on January 9 th , Morag Bullock on 

the 16 th and Sammy Fitzsimmons on the 

23 rd . 

We are delighted to be welcoming 

international Spanish medium Mercedes 

Garcia who has lived in England for many 

years. Mercedes will be giving an evening 

of clairvoyance at the social club, Condado 

de Alhama on Tuesday 29 th January. Tickets 

are on sale at 5€ each. She will also be 

taking our weekly meeting on the 30 th 

January at the Beacon of Light Centre, The 

old School House, Cañadas del Romero. 

The centre continues to grow and to those 

we have met and those we have yet to 

meet “a warm welcome” is assured and 

hopefully the doors of the Beacon of Light 

will remain open for many years to come. 

Our meetings are every Wednesday from 

7pm with weekly guest mediums. There is 

healing available at the end of the meeting 

which usually finishes at approximately 

8.30pm. As always the evenings ends with 

a friendly chat and cup of tea and biscuits. 

All our meetings are funded by donations 

given during the evening. 

Do you seek a special place? 

The welcome’s warm, a friendly face, 

Do you need a place to go? 

When you feel good or you feel low. 

Do you want to know some more, 

For when we exit Earth Plane’s door? 

Healing you can get from there, 

Given with lots of loving care. 

Mediums travel from afar, 

Some by ‘plane and some by car, 

Messages of hope to bring, 

From loved ones as we proudly sing. 

Life does not end at the grave, 

Eternal love to you they gave, 

They’re never very far from you, 

So very close in all you do. 

So why not pop along and see, 

And join us for a cup of tea, 

If you would like on a Wednesday night, 

Come to our Centre - The Beacon of 

Light 





Page 49


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Page 51


Brothers Jailed Over Heathrow Cocaine 

Smuggling Attempt 

Two brothers who attempted to smuggle 

cocaine worth almost £300,000 through 

Heathrow Airport have been jailed for a total 

of nine years. 

Spanish nationals Roberto and Jesus-Maria 

Moreno-Ramirez were arrested by Border 

Force officers at Terminal 1 on 19 September 

after flying in from the Dominican Republic, 

via Frankfurt. Just under three kilos of 

the drug was seized with a street value of 

around £300,000. 

The brothers, aged 44 and 40 and originally 

from the La Rioja region of Spain, both 

pleaded guilty to importing a class A drug 

and were sentenced to four-and-a-half years 

in prison each. 

Anyone with information about activity they 

suspect may be linked to drug smuggling 

should call our hotline on 0800 59 5000. 

Nineteen Arrested in Spain and UK in 

People Smuggling Investigation 

Spain is becoming a hard place for organised 

immigration crime to operate. UK Border 

Agency officers and the Guardia Civil have 

arrested a total of 19 people in the UK 

and Spain as part of a major international 

investigation into a suspected organised 

crime gang involved in people smuggling. 

Operation “MARLO” involved UKBA and 

Guardia Civil raids on addresses in Alicante, 

Madrid and London and Hull. The arrests 

were the culmination of a joint investigation 

into an alleged criminal network suspected 

of assisting Iranian migrants to reach the 

UK from mainland Europe. The investigation 

also involved the UKBA Immigration Liaison 

Office based in the British Embassy in Madrid 

and the assistance of airlines. 

The network is alleged to have organised 

travel and provided false documents to 

their clients to facilitate their arrival at UK 

airports. The eight people arrested in the UK 

were aged between 23 and 56. In addition 

computers, documents and mobile phones 

were seized from a number of addresses and 

will now be examined. 

Co-ordinated action by the Guardia Civil 

saw eleven people arrested during raids in 

Madrid and Alicante in Spain. The gang is 

said to have been contacted by up to 100 

potential customers per month and was 

charging its clients up to 18,000€ each. Of 

those enquiries, on average 25 per month 

are believed to have become clients, with 20 

per month heading for the UK. 

Anyone with information about immigration 

crime can pass it on via Crimestoppers at 

http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/, 

or call the UK number 0800 555111. 

Anonymity is assured. 

New Radio Campaign to Help British 

Expatriates Avoid Trouble 

A new campaign aimed at helping British 

residents to avoid common pitfalls whilst 

living in Spain will be aired on English 

language radio stations across the country. 

Roadside robberies, out-of-date passports, 

and benefits and health concerns all feature 

in the new radio ‘fillers’ covering some of 

the most frequent issues that Consular staff 

have to tackle. 

The issues are very different but the impact 

is the same: huge stress for British expats 

who suddenly find themselves facing 

frustration, inconvenience and large costs 

because they failed to take the right steps to 

avoid problems. 

Hundreds of British registered and hire cars 

are targeted every year by gangs who prey 

on foreigners by distracting them on the 

road or at rest stops, and then rob of them 

of luggage and possessions. 

It’s all too easy to forget when your passport 

expires. If it has and you need to travel 

urgently, an emergency travel document for 

one return journey currently costs around 

125€ - an expensive mistake. 

There’s a reminder to visit the UKinSpain 

website for a wealth of information about 

living in Spain – the facts, not rumours and 

gossip. Find out why you should register on 

the Padrón at the local town hall and how you 

could miss out on welfare-related benefits 

and social services help in the future if you 

don’t. The UKinSpain website can be found 

at www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk. 

The voices behind the fillers include 

Sheila Reid who plays Madge in the hit UK 

television series Benidorm, Keith Barron 

who played Benidorm’s deputy mayor in 

2009, and Huggy Leaver who has appeared 

in EastEnders and the film ‘Lock, Stock and 

Two Smoking Barrels’. 

To obtain the fillers, 

radio stations can 

also register on the 

Fillers Information 

Service at: http:// 

radiofillers.coi.gov. 

uk. 

If You Suspect A 

Benefit Thief In 

Spain, it’s Now 

Easier Than Ever to 

Report it. 

Brother and Sister Fraudsters Landed 

With Huge Fines 

Heard someone boasting about ripping off 

the British taxpayer? 

Know a neighbour who’s living off benefits 

they shouldn’t have? 

If you feel fed up and want something done 

about it, it’s easier than ever to report a 

suspected benefit thief. 

In addition to the free and confidential 

Benefit Fraud hotline in Spain 900 554 

440 there is now an online form from 

the Department of Work and Pensions at 

www.dwp.gov.uk/benefit-thievesspain 

or https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/ 

benefitfraud/spain/ 

The only request from benefit investigators 

is that you provide as much information as 

you can. The more you give, no matter how 

insignificant it may seem, the easier it is to 

trace the fraudster and the more likely it is 

that they will be caught. 

Details that are particularly useful include 

the suspect’s full name and addresses in 

the UK and Spain and details of their spouse 

or partner, and information about any work 

they do. All the information you give will be 

treated in strictest confidence. You do not 

have to give your own name and address if 

you do not wish to. 

The new online form is just one way 

investigators are closing in on benefit 

fraudsters in Spain. A dedicated team 

continues to work closely with the Spanish 

authorities, making it harder and harder for 

benefit thieves to go undetected. 

Siblings Lawrence Candlish and Melanie 

Batey from Gateshead, wrongly thought 

they could outsmart investigators when 

they moved to Alicante in 2005 and 2007 

respectively, and failed to notify benefit 

officials. Despite Candlish winning a £5.5 

million lottery jackpot in 1997 and opening a 

bar and restaurant in the Santa Pola area of 

the Alicante region, they both continued to 

fraudulently claim benefits until December 

2010 when their dishonest actions finally 

caught up with them. 

Between them they had falsely claimed 

over £40,000 which they will now have to 

pay back to the UK government. Candlish 

was sentenced to nine months in prison, 

suspended for 18 months with supervision. 

His sister Melanie Batey received the same 

sentence. 

Frauds like these continue to happen, 

which is why Work & Pensions investigators 

are asking anyone who suspects others of 

committing benefit fraud to call the free and 

confidential hotline in Spain on 900 554 

440, or send in their concerns at https:// 

secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/. 

If you want more information on which 

benefits can and cannot be claimed whilst 

living in Spain, do visit www.gov.uk. 

Page 52 









Page 53


P a t r i c k 

O’Brian 

was born on 

12 th December 

1914 in 

Buckinghamshire 

and was 

christened 

Richard Patrick 

Russ, but 

changed his 

name by deed 

poll to Patrick 

O’Brian 

in 1945. He 

was the eighth of nine children born to a German 

doctor and his Irish wife. His mother 

died when he was three and was brought up 

by his stepmother. O’Brian spent some time 

as a pilot training with the Royal Navy, but 

he began to concentrate on his literary career 

and rumour has it that he was used for intelligence 

work during World War II. 

O’Brian is best known for his Aubrey-Maturin 

series of novels set in the Royal Navy during 

the Napoleonic Wars. There are 20 novels 

in this series, starting with Master and Commander, 

although a final novel was published 

posthumously after O’Brian’s death in January 

2000. 

O’Brian was married twice; the first to Elizabeth 

Jones and the second to Mary Tolstoy. 

His second daughter to Elizabeth unfortunately 

suffered from spina bifida and died in 

1942 aged three. After spending a few years 

in Wales, Patrick and Mary moved to France 

where he continued writing and also translating 

French works into English. O’Brian was 

awarded the inaugural Heywood Hill Literary 

Prize for his lifetime’s writings and he also received 

a CBE in 1997. 

The Golden Ocean 

This is the first novel Patrick O’Brian wrote 

about the sea, a precursor to the acclaimed 

Aubrey/Maturin series. 

In the year 1740, 

Commodore 

(later Admiral) 

George Anson 

embarked on 

a voyage that 

would become 

one of the most 

famous exploits 

in British naval 

history. Sailing 

through poorly 

charted waters, 

Anson and his 

men encountered 

disaster, disease, 

and astonishing 

success. They 

circumnavigated the globe and seized a nearly 

incalculable sum of Spanish gold and silver, 

but only one of the five ships survived. 

The protagonist is Peter Palafox, son of a poor 

Irish parson, who signs on as a midshipman, 

never before having seen a ship. Together 

with his lifelong friend Sean, Peter sets out to 

seek his fortune, embarking upon a journey 

of danger, disappointment, foreign lands, and 

excitement. 

Blue at the Mizzen 

Napoleon has 

been defeated at 

Waterloo, and the 

ensuing peace 

brings with it 

both the desertion 

of nearly 

half of Captain 

Aubrey’s crew 

and the sudden 

dimming of 

Aubrey’s career 

prospects in a 

peacetime navy. 

When the Surprise 

is nearly sunk on her way to South 

America—where Aubrey and Stephen Maturin 

are to help Chile assert her independence 

from Spain—the delay occasioned by repairs 

reaps a harvest of strange consequences. The 

South American expedition is a desperate affair; 

and in the end Jack’s bold initiative to 

strike at the vastly superior Spanish fleet precipitates 

a spectacular naval action that will 

determine both Chile’s fate and his own. 

The Commodore 

This is the seventeenth 

novel 

in the Aubrey/ 

Maturin series, 

which have been 

described as “the 

best historical 

novels ever written.” 

Having survived a 

long and desperate 

adventure in 

the Great South 

Sea, Captain Jack 

Aubrey and Stephen 

Maturin return to England to very different 

circumstances. For Jack it is a happy 

homecoming, at least initially, but for Stephen 

it is disastrous: his little daughter appears to 

be autistic, incapable of speech or contact, 

while his wife, Diana, unable to bear this 

situation, has disappeared, her house being 

looked after by the widowed Clarissa Oakes. 

Much of The Commodore takes place on 

land, in sitting rooms and in draughty castles, 

but the roar of the great guns is never 

far from our hearing. Aubrey and Maturin 

are sent on a bizarre decoy mission to the 

fever-ridden lagoons of the Gulf of Guinea to 

suppress the slave trade. But their ultimate 

destination is Ireland, where the French are 

mounting an invasion that will test Aubrey’s 

seamanship and Maturin’s resourcefulness as 

a secret intelligence agent. 

Page 54 





A group of 30 members and friends visited 

the Almazara at Raiguero on Sat 1 st Dec 

to see the olive oil processing plant. The 

olives were stripped of the flesh and the 

olive stones ground down in a hammer mill 

and then hot water was added to the mush. 

Large filters then extracted the remaining 

flesh and stones and a beautiful clear olive 

oil emerged. 

Some members took along their own olives 

and depending on the oil content of the 

olives, varying from 15% to 19%, collected 

oil from the shop in the Almazara. This was 

a fascinating and interesting visit to a local 

factory. 

The group then retired to a local wholesale 

bedding plant nursery in La Majada and 

rounded off the morning with lunch at El Puente. 

John Blakey 

On Saturday 15 th December, over 150 people 

met at Playa Flamenca for what has become 

the annual lighting of the Menorah. The 

Menorah is an 8-branch candelabra, which is 

lit to celebrate Chanukah, otherwise known 

as the Jewish Festival of Light. 

The service was led by Alan Harris of the 

Southern Costa Blanca Jewish Community, 

and the Menorah was lit by Cllr. Pedro 

Mancebo, deputy Mayor for Orihuela Costa. 

After the lighting, those present enjoyed 

doughnuts and wine as is traditional at this 

time of year. 

Puerto Lumbreras Christian Fellowship 

now meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday 

each month at 11.00am in the premises 

of the Spanish Evangelical Church Puerto 

Lumbreras Tel 619453283 

Paul and Sandra 





Page 55

St Nicholas Ecumenical Church 

Calle Sobrija 2248 

Sector D20 Camposol 

By Rev Len Eaton MBE 

www.stnicholaschurchspain.com 

As I write this article, the real Christmas has 

not yet arrived, but is getting very close, 

however, we have made very good use of 

Advent in our preparations for the celebration 

of the arrival of the Christ child. 

In addition to our normal services in the 

Church, we have had a most wonderful 

concert of Christmas carols, songs, music 

and poems led by the St Nicholas Choir 

under the direction of Maureen Sherwood, 

to a full house. Mulled wine, mince pies 

and shortbread were served at the interval 

and warmed up an otherwise chilly night. 

On Sunday 16 th we participated in a joint 

service in Puerto de Mazarrón. The service 

was conducted in both German and English 

and organised by the German section of our 

church to mark the closure of their annual 

Christmas Market. This market raises money 

which is used to buy food for the needy of 

the local community. In the evening of the 

16 th we held our service of Nine Lessons and 

Carols. The collection at this service is used 

as one of a number of annual donations to 

our link school in Ghana and is used to help 

children there with the simple things they 

require in order to be able to attend school. 

I am very pleased to report that the latest 

charitable initiative by the church, “The Grub 

Tub,” is going very well with large amounts 

of food items for the needy in our area, 

arriving weekly from the congregation and 

also monitory donations to buy food from 

members of the Church presently away in 

other places. Long may it continue in the true 

spirit of Christmas, “Goodwill to all mankind”, 

long after the Christmas celebrations are over 

as I am sure in this dire situation there will 

still be many in need. 

The Ordination of Bill Coyle as a Deacon on 

the 25 th November went very well and I am 

pleased to say that Rev Bill has settled in 

to his work in the Ministry very well and is 

already shouldering some of the weight with 

the other Ministers in taking services and 

other allied work. Long may it continue. 

Services for January 

Sunday 6 th Songs of Praise 10.30am 

Sunday 13 th Holy Communion 10.30am 

Sunday 20 th Morning Prayer 10.30am 

Sunday 27 th Holy Communion 10.30am 

All services take place at Calle Sobrija 2248, 

D20 Camposol, where a warm welcome 

awaits you. Services offered by the Church 

are Wedding Blessings, Holy Baptism, 

Confirmation and Funerals. We have a 

Pastoral Service throughout the year, people 

who listen. Talk and are there to help anyone 

who is sick or in need. The Pastoral care is 

absolutely confidential. 

For any of the Church Services offered, or 

other information, please call Rev Len Eaton 

on 968 138 952, Rev Deacon Maureen Kent 

on 636 099 679, Rev Deacon Bill Coyle 634 

143 260, or Rev Bro Konrad 679 927 268 


There is nothing worse than the common 

cold, mainly because there is nothing that 

really cures it, but there are things that you 

can do to help prevent colds and boost your 

immune system. The cold weather hits our 

immune systems, making it harder for us to 

fight cough, cold and flu bugs we come into 

contact with. The lack of sunlight and generally 

being outdoors less doesn’t help our immunity 

and travelling into towns and cities 

for Christmas shopping, going to parties and 

other festivities means that you have probably 

been mixing with crowds of people and 

germs have been able to spread like wildfire. 

At this time of year, many of us reach for vitamins, 

supplements and traditional remedies 

to protect ourselves from the cold season, 

but there are natural sources of vitamins, 

such as oranges, broccoli and other fruit 

and veg which contain plenty of Vitamin C. 

If you’re prone to colds, you may want to 

take as many precautions as possible to 

help keep them at bay. Supplements are 

not a substitute for a balanced diet, but 

they can be an ‘insurance policy’ that gives 

your body a boost when it needs it. Don’t try 

taking everything, but there are a few key, 

good quality supplements. 

Vitamin D 

Many people are deficient in this vital vitamin, 

which we get from sunlight and 

oily fish and egg yolk. During the winter 

months it is easier here in Spain to 

get the 20 minutes of sun a day which is 

recommended, but that does mean that 

you have to actually go out in the sun. 

Vitamin C 

It has been accepted 

for years that there 

is a usefulness in Vitamin 

C in preventing 

colds and it has been 

suggested that it can 

reduce the severity 

and length of a cold. 

You don’t have to take 

a supplement for this 

Vitamin as it is abundant 

in our normal 

diet, but if you forget 

your ‘five a day’, it 

might be worth topping up. 

Garlic 

Garlic has natural antibiotic properties, so if 

you are not keen on fresh garlic, it might be 

worth taking garlic capsules. Garlic is also a 

natural antibiotic, which might help reduce 

the chances of your catching a cough or cold. 

Zinc 

Zinc has also been shown to shorten the 

length of colds. It can be taken as a pill, a 

nasal spray or as lozenges. 

Echinacea 

This product is taken mainly from the root 

of the daisy plant. Many people now swear 

by Echinacea and trials have shown that it 

can be beneficial to the immune system and 

can reduce the severity and length of colds. 

It should be taken continuously, but only 

for short periods of time, eg. every day for 

around three months. It can be effective if 

you start taking it when you first feel a cold 

coming on and continue for a few weeks after 

you are better. Echinacea may help boost 

your immune system, making you less likely 

to catch other infections. High doses of 

around 1,000mg are thought to be most effective. 

Try to stay away from places where there are 

crowds and where other people may pass on 

their germs like hospitals and doctors’ waiting 

rooms. There is not much the doctors 

can do for a cold, so unless you are prone to 

something like chest infections, it is usually 

best to ride out a cold, or go to the Farmacia 

for some advice. Get plenty of fresh air every 

day and if you are staying indoors, make 

sure there is plenty of ventilation. Germs 

love warm, stuffy atmospheres. 

Page 56 









Page 57

New Laws Regarding Payments of 

Invoices 

Any invoice that is higher than 

2.500€ CANNOT be paid in cash. It 

must be paid via a traceable source; bank 

transfer, cheque, etc. and the proof of 

payment MUST be attached to the invoice 

and no transaction may be divided into 

instalments in order to make the payments 

less than 2.500€. 

If you issue an invoice for 2.500€ or more 

and the debtor refuses to pay in anything 

other than cash, you must inform the Tax 

Office in order that you don’t get a fine. If 

this happens, deposit the amount in the 

bank and write on the cash deposit slip all 

the information; name, invoice number etc 

and then attach that to the invoice paid. 

The fine for not conforming to the above is 

25% of the amount of the transaction. 

Tel Pepe Silvente on 968 332 058 for 

more information 

The sale of sales starts on 2 nd January at 

UK Supplies Direct in the Pyramid Centre 

in Puerto de Mazarron. Thousands of 

items are now reduced - many at just €1! 

This is a genuine sale, hurry whilst stocks 

last. 

Tel 661 173 269 

Every Wednesday from 2 nd January between 

9.30am & 11.30am, come to the new 

biggest loser weight loss club at Shape & 

Tone in Los Alcazares. This is a non-profit 

making club which costs 10€ per month. At 

the end of each month, whoever has lost the 

most weight wins all the money collected. 

Tel 661 002 648 for details 

It is with great regret that we have to inform 

our readers that The Market Tavern in 

Puerto de Mazarrón is now closed. We 

would like to wish Tracey and her family 

all the best wishes for the future. She 

and her team will be missed by us all. 

The Market Tavern is for sale and is a 

great opportunity for someone. 

Please see advert on page 96. 

Visit Restaurante Marina on the Paseo in 

Puerto de Mazarrón for a superb choice of 

Tapas and traditional English Fish and Chips. 

This friendly restaurant is right on the sea 

front, so you have wonderful views whilst 

relaxing enjoying your drink or food. 

Tel 968 959 902 

Traditionally, December is one of the 

quietest months of the year, but for Best of 

Spanish that wasn’t to be. This year has 

broken the sales trend and proved to be the 

best month in 2012 for new sales. For Best 

of Spanish, that’s a great way to end 2012. 

Let’s hope things are improving. 

Tel (0034) 635 434 651 

The new parking facility at Alicante Airport 

provided by Seguro Parking is open! If 

you are flying from Alicante Airport, take 

advantage of the ‘Meet & Greet Service’ you 

are used to from Seguro Parking at Murcia 

Airport. 

Tel 622 062 115 

The Alley Palais Bistro on Camposol B are 

pleased to announce that due to popular 

demand, in addition to Wednesday nights 

their 3 course “Menu del Noche” is also now 

available every Monday. Representing great 

value for money it is only 9.75€ 

Booking is advisable. 

Call 968 978 869 

In In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com 

Yorkshire Linen based in Puerto de 

Mazarrón has now been extended, creating 

a bigger, better and brighter shopping 

environment. There is now even more 

choice of products with new ranges such 

as dried flowers and vases, ornaments, 

pictures and lampshades. You will also 

find the best selection of duvets, pillows, 

bedding, curtains and towels in the area 

with the emphasis firmly on value. 

Tel 968 595 946 

What value! The Steak Out on Camposol 

B now do a Menu del Dia for only 7.50€ for 

a three course meal Monday to Friday from 

12.45pm until 4.30pm. This has to be one 

of the cheapest meals available in the area, 

so why not give The Steak Out a try! 

Tel 968 970 619 

The Winter Sale is now on at DFS in San 

Javier. Call in for a New Year bargain in 

beds, sofas, tables & chairs etc. DFS also 

do full furniture packs from 2,995€. Visit 

their website www.dfsspain.com/offers 

for all the latest offers. 

Tel 968 334 194 

It is now possible to take “Galope” 

examinations in English at The META 

Riding Centre in Costera de Alhama. 

There are 9 levels of exams; the highest 

being Olympic Standard. You must be a 

member of the Murcia Riding Federation, 

but this also covers you for Accident 

Insurance. If you have passed any “Galope” 

exams, they are taken into account as a 

professional qualification for those wanting 

to have an equestrian career. 

Tel 636 172 198 for more information 

By popular demand Camposol Heating & 

Maintenance SL (CHM) now offer their 

customers who are not resident a pre-visit 

heating and hot water check for just €25. 

We will liaise with your keyholders and 

make sure that your heating and hot water 

is working properly prior to your arrival. 

Contact 968 199 184 to book your call. 

3D Television is the viewing of the future. 

T J Electricals on Camposol Sector B can 

supply the full range of these fabulous 

televisions. If you purchase one of these 

advanced televisions during January you 

can buy a 3D Blue Ray Player for 1/2 price. 

Tel 868 181 121 

If you are an existing customers and you have some Business News that you would like to 

share with our readers then why not email it to us to be included on our Business News page. 

Please keep your news to about 50 words and send us an email by 15th of the month, 

to costacalidachronicle@gmail.com with Business News in the subject box. 

Page 58 





Max is approx 

4 years old and 

was seen running 

around 

the streets so 

we took him 

in. He is a really 

gentle boy, 

good with other 

dogs and cats 

and is chipped. 

Call: 645 469 

253 

Call: 655 103 082 

Pepe is 18 

months and a 

big softie! He 

has all vaccinations 

up to date 

and he has 

been neutered. 

Pepe is calm 

when needed 

and when it is 

time he likes 

to get-up-andgo. 

He loves 

to play and go 

on long walks. 

Peggy and Dolly are now approx 9 weeks old 

and ready to be reserved for their new homes. 

They are in excellent health and good with other 

cats and dogs. Call: 645 469 253 

Billie was found in the campo, very weak and 

disorientated. He is approx 1 year old and is a 

lovely, playful, well behaved dog, very trusting 

and affectionate. He loves to play with other 

dogs and is good with children. Call: 665 062 

361 

To view more animals for adoption go to 

www.petsinspain.com 

To advertise an animal for adoption email: 

info@petsinspain.info 





Page 59


Extra charges will apply for ‘excess’ electricity 

consumption 

Electricity bills are set to go up again, but the 

price increase will hit the highest consumers 

the hardest. 

Those with power supplies of between 3 and 

10 KW contracted from the utility board will 

pay a supplementary charge if they use more 

than the average monthly amount of energy. 

The additional charges will range from 0.00138 

to 0.01546 Euros per KW and will be added to 

the part of the bill that relates to government 

taxes and fees. 

This way, the State expects to earn a further 

280 million Euros in 2013. The main aim behind 

the extra costs is to encourage ‘more efficient 

and responsible’ energy consumption 

and to cut CO2 emissions by penalising excess 

use. 

According to the ministry of industry, the impact 

on household bills will be ‘minimal’ or ‘nil’, 

even though the taxes and charges payable 

to the government from monthly utility payments 

make up half of the amount consumers 

have to shell out. They say the increase is 

likely to be between 1% and 8%, although to 

reach an 8% rise, excess consumption would 

have to be ‘extreme’, or more than double the 

average. 

The application of the ‘average consumption’ 

figures will only apply to peak payment times 

where households have contracted a peak/offpeak 

usage tariff. 

Farmers Bombard Ministry Of Agriculture 

With Half a Tonne of Tomatoes 

Farmers pelted the ministry of agriculture 

building with 500 kilos of tomatoes and several 

crates of peppers and cucumbers in protest 

over ‘illegal’ imports of fruit and vegetables 

from Morocco. Tomatoes from the north African 

country are coming into Spain without any 

proper control, claim members of the farming 

association COAG and they are undercutting 

Spanish prices by such a degree that the agricultural 

sector in Spain cannot compete. 

Moroccan tomatoes are selling at 46 cents a 

kilo, whereas in Spain, it costs 50 cents a kilo 

just to produce them and to match the import 

prices, national farmers would have to sell 

their produce at a loss. Peppers and cucumbers 

are also affected, but to a lesser degree. 

The agricultural workers also left huge boxes 

of sand outside the ministry to symbolise the 

‘desertification’ of their fields, with fruit and 

vegetables left to rot as they cannot afford to 

harvest them. A spokesman for COAG says 

Spain’s ministry of agriculture ‘Has to learn 

that its job is to look out for Spanish farmers, 

not Moroccan farmers’ and says that the 

government is turning its back on the potential 

ruin that could be faced by up to 200,000 

producers. They also condemned the ‘authoritative 

and dictatorial attitude’ of the ministry 

after they received a letter telling them they 

were not permitted to attend the Spanish- 

Moroccan Committee meeting during which 

representatives of both countries and their 

farming associations, cooperatives, and Spanish 

exporters would be chosen. 

Mar Menor Pensioners Murdered By 

Nephew For Refusing Him Money 

The elderly couple found dead in their home in 

Santiago de la Ribera were shot by their nephew 

because he refused to give them money, 

say police investigating the crime. J.M.R.C., 

aged 28, who also lives in the Mar Menor town 

where the tragedy occurred, was arrested. 

After initially refusing to cooperate, he broke 

down and confessed to the double murder. 

He said he had asked his uncle, who was in 

his 80’s, for money, but the pensioner had refused 

to give him any and would not tell his 

nephew where he kept his cash. This led to a 

heated discussion, during which the accused 

shot his uncle as he sat in his armchair. He 

then shot dead his aunt, who was lying in bed, 

‘so that she would not be left to cope on her 

own’. 

They were both found by their carer lying in 

pools of blood when she went round to the 

house to see to them as she did on a daily 

basis. 

Jail For Brit Who Torched Benidorm Hotel 

A British man who set fire to a hotel in Benidorm 

has been jailed for four years and four 

months. Although there were no fatalities, 11 

people were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation 

when the building went up in flames 

at Christmas in 2010. 

His defence lawyer, Marcos Castañer, asked the 

court for his client to be imprisoned in the UK 

rather than in Spain, so that he can be nearer 

to his mother, who has just been diagnosed 

with a serious illness. Castañer negotiated 

a lower sentence than the initial nine years 

proposed by the prosecution service, since 

the accused suffers from slight brain damage 

due to meningitis he had suffered as a child, 

leaving him with a younger than usual mental 

age and very dependent upon his mother, with 

whom he had been staying in the hotel at the 

time of the incident. He had also been drinking 

alcohol at the time, but 

the judge found that 

although these served 

as mitigating factors, 

the man knew the nature 

and quality of his 

actions. 

After being out drinking 

in town, the accused 

set fire to the 

patios of two bars in 

Benidorm near the hotel, 

and once back on 

the premises set light 

to one of the rooms. 

The entire building had 

to be evacuated although miraculously, there 

were no deaths or serious injuries. 

According to the court, the suspect pleaded 

guilty and the British Embassy in Spain will 

be responsible for ensuring he serves his sentence 

in the UK. 

Girl With Cocaine Breast Implants Arrested 

at Barcelona Airport 

Border authorities have arrested a woman 

smuggling drugs into Spain inside her breast 

implants. The accused, a native of Panamá 

aged around 20, had flown into Barcelona’s El 

Prat airport from the Colombian capital, Bogotá 

and was stopped at customs when officials 

became suspicious - particularly when she was 

vague about the reasons for her having travelled 

to Spain. They strip-searched her and 

found two blood-stained gauze dressings on 

her breasts which, when removed, revealed 

unhealed wounds and traces of white powder. 

She said all this was because she had just 

had a breast enhancement operation, but after 

the girl was X-rayed, the implants turned 

out to be bags of cocaine weighing nearly 1.4 

kilos apiece, which had been sewn inside her 

breasts via surgery. They had started to split 

and the drug had leaked into her blood. The 

woman had to be taken to Barcelona’s Bellvitge 

Hospital for an emergency operation to 

have them removed. 

Authorities say this is the first time that they 

had come across a case where a person’s life 

was in real danger through smuggling drugs 

inside the body. 

Non-Emergency Ambulance Journeys 

Will Cost 5€ Each or Up To 120€ A Year 

Non-urgent ambulance transport will attract 

charges for patients ranging from 5€ a trip 

through to anything between 20€ and 120€ a 

year, according to Spain’s Ministry of Health. 

Chronically-ill patients, those who cannot get 

about but need treatment, or patients who 

need to go to hospital regularly for consultations 

need ambulance transport, but it is not 

necessarily an immediate life-or-death situation 

such as a traffic accident or a heart attack. 

This is the argument put forward by 

health minister Ana Mato. 

Pensioners earning less than 18,000€ a year 

will have to pay 10€ every six months, or 20€ 

a year, for regular ambulance trips and those 

earning over this amount will have to pay 40€ 

a year. Anyone earning 100,000€ or more per 

annum has to pay 60€ twice-yearly. 

One-off ambulance trips will cost 5€ each way, 

or 10€ return. People who need ambulance 

transport which is not an emergency can include, 

cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy 

where they are not well enough to drive, 

or disabled people such as accident victims or 

people with MS, wheelchair and crutch users; 

in general, people who suffer a one-off bout 

of food poisoning which precludes them from 

driving to A & E, patients on dialysis, or with 

cataracts who need regular consultations and 

treatment. 

This new requirement has not yet been approved 

in Parliament. 

Page 60 





Dear Editor 

I would like to introduce all your readers to 

Costa Women, a social and business network 

community for women living in Spain, or 

dreaming Spain as part of their life goals. We 

provide space to interact, share and connect, 

enjoy experiences, share new ideas, grow your 

enterprise, tell your stories, whilst providing 

knowledge about living in this vibrant country 

and make some friends along the way. 

Let’s put Mazarrón and Murcia Area on the 

map! 

It’s all FREE - go to the website and make your 

page. 

Join us at http://costawomen.ning.com 

There is still time to vote for this Costa Women 

Community in the Telegraph Expat Awards. 

You need to register first though to vote on the 

link below. 

http://expatdirectory.telegraph.co.uk/ 

spain/spain-wide-the-balearic-andcanary-islands/costa-women-spain/ 

page:2 

Thanks a lot 

Barbara 

Finca Fuentes! 

A Journey back in Time! 100 yrs ago! 

Our Spanish 

teacher and 

friend Marie 

Fuentes has 

opened up her 

family’s country 

house in the 

Mazarrón area to 

the public! 

Finca Fuentes 

lies in the small 

village of La 

Atalaya (on the 

road to Morata) 

Marie takes groups of 10-12 people on a guided 

tour ‘back in time!100 years ago’, when the 

family first inherited Finca Fuentes in 1926. 

Marie explains many interesting facts of how 

they used to live and shows marvellous 

examples of the clothes and embroidery 

that the ‘women folk’ made. 

Finca Fuentes stands proud amongst the 

wilderness of La Atalaya and radiates great 

character and warmth. 

Marie and her mother Ginesa are full of smiles 

and passion! they just love sharing their history 

and home-life with others! 

After a good hour’s tour, of both the inside and 

outside of their country home, Marie and 

Ginesa invite you to their family table where 

they serve a delicious ‘Traditional Murcian’ 

meal for you to enjoy. 

“Our group enjoyed very much, a wonderful 

and plentiful feast of fresh local food and wine, 

in the comfort of a lovely old Spanish family 

home”. 

Tom & Barbara Franken 





Page 61


Page 62 




ANIMAL ORGANISATIONS: 

ACTIN 

968 163 529 

Andrea’s Animal Rescue 

Fuente Alamo 

690 906 565 

Easy Horse Care 

Rojales 

652 021 980 

Galgos del Sol 

Murcia 

galgosdelsol@hotmail.com 

Help Murcia Mar Menor 

Los Alcazares 

968 570 059 

JJ’s Puppy Rescue Organisation 

Mazarrón 

618 034 921 

John Kemp’s Puppies 

La Pinilla, Fuente Alamo 

646 737 230 

Pets in Spain 

San Fulgencio/La Marina 

info@petsinspain.info 

MAMAS’s 

Mazarrón 

666 186 037 

MARA 

Mula 

685 311 599 

Noah’s ARC 

Mazarrón 

699 352 818 

968 154 507 (shop) 

PAPS 

966 769 137 

Protector de Animales 

http://protectoraanimalparraga.net/ 

RAD Animal Association 

655 027 676 

CHARITIES: 

Age Concern 

Mazarrón 

634 310 216 

Alcoholics Anonymous 

Mazarrón, Cuevas de Reyllo 

646 290 420 

Cabo De Palos 

968 545 181 

Costa Cálida Samaritans 

www.costablancasamaritans.com 

GO maD 

Mazarrón 

678 598 677 

Help Murcia Mar Menor 

Calle Penélope No 11, Los Alcázares, 

968 570 059 

Helping Hands 

contact@helpinghands.org.es 

Lions Club Mazarrón Bahía 

Mazarrón 

636 746 959 

MABS Mar Menor 

693 275 779 

MABS Mazarrón 

620 422 410 

MABS NW Murcia 

mabsmurcianw@gmail.com 

PALS (Protection & Life Saving) 

Mazarrón 

968 437 837 

CHURCHES: 

Beacon of Light 

620 877 326 

Mass in English 

Pastrana, Mazarrón 

628 824 555 

New Life Church 

Los Belones 

966 769 300/650 509 606 

Olive Branch Christian Fellowship 

Cultural Centre, Camposol B 

618 720 181/968 199 622 

Open Door 

Los Almagros 

646 705 403/655 141 721 

Pilar Christian Community Church 

Pilar de la Horidada 

966 769 300/650 509 606 

Puerto Lumbreras Church 

619 945 283 

St Nicholas Church 

Camposol, Mazarrón 

968 138 952 

Welcome House 

Cehegin 

633 447 937 

Wellspring Victory Church 

El Alamillo, Mazarrón 

620 599 270 

GROUPS: 

ADAPT 

San Pedro 

966 189 402 

Arts & Cultural Association of Murcia 

655 421 120 

Camposol Bridge Club 

968 130 583 

Cálida Country Music 

968 163 082 

Cloud Nine Drama 

Mula 

644 400 123 

Darwinian Gardeners 

darwiniangardeners@gmail.com 

Evolutionists of Almeria and Murcia 

www.bolnuevo.com/social/ 

Evolutionists 

Ex-Servicemen’s Association 

Mazarrón 

968 965 058 

Friends & Buddies 


968 163 758 

HAH Help at Home 

San Javier 

633 673 034 

Ladies’ Chatterbox 

Camposol 

968 199 418/619 575 463 

Los Palacios 

Camposol A 

Welcome Group 


620 105 179 

If you would like details of your club or 

organization included on this page, please 

send an email to costacalidachronicle@ 

gmail.com 






Page 63 Page 63

Everyone’s a Winner With HAH, Mar 

Menor 

Two more Christmas Fayres took place recently, 

the last Saturday in November at the Delfin 

Bar in Los Urrutias, and the 1 st Sunday In December 

at Bacchus Restaurant in Los Narejos. 

Prince, giving out small gifts to the children. 

Home made food stalls, along with a selection 

of goodies from Bacchus, all so tempting! The 

HAH raffles were drawn, and the winner of 

the hamper was Liz & Barrie Matthews from 

Estrella de Mar, and for the ‘Cake and Cava’, 

which had been won by Steve Sutcliffe and 

re-donated, the winner was Vicky Jones from 

Campoverde. 

Pam Prince from HAH said “What fun these 

Fayres are, such bargains to be had and so 

many people winning little gifts. This is what 

Christmas was all about, people working together 

and supporting each other. We all have 

so much fun and have raised a further 550€ 

for HAH”. 

thank Coachtrips SL. We have been able to 

help so many people who have been struggling 

to cope, and this money ensures that we 

can continue to grow our very valuable FREE 

service. 


HAH was there of course with their homemade 

crafts, jams, pickles, and cards, calendars 

and diaries. Fast becoming a highlight 

of these events is the HAH tombola where 

everyone who buys a ticket, wins a prize. Led 

by Carol and Norman Duff who spend hours 

sourcing and wrapping these prizes, this now 

has people waiting to buy tickets!! Along with 

the other stalls, 395€ was raised for HAH. 

Pam and Roy, owners of the Delfin said “What 

a fantastic day! The weather was brilliant and 

the Christmas atmosphere and goods on sale 

were amazing. We will definitely make this an 

annual event.” 

Sunday December 2 nd was the Fayre at Bacchus 

Restaurant in Los Narejos, with lots more 

stalls along with HAH and their own Elf, Pam 

The happy Christmas atmosphere continued 

with some wonderful Christmas favourites 

from The Spangles Ladies Harmony Chorus. 

All in all ‘Everyone was a Winner’. 

Coachtrips SL Support HAH Throughout 

2012 

So many people have been on trips this year 

with this popular coach trip organiser, and 

have generously bought tickets for various 

raffles. This has amounted throughout the 

year to an amazing donation to HAH Mar 

Menor of 6,624€. The final draw for a fantastic 

Christmas Holiday in Benidorm for 2 

people plus spending money was made and 

the winner was Mrs Wheeler from Quesada. 

Lynda Christopher, Clinical Lead with HAH 

went to their office in San Luis to make the 

draw, and receive the final cheque from David 

Malcolm, Coachtrips SL 

Director. Thanking everyone 

for their support, 

she said “We are 

so proud to have been 

chosen as their charity 

for 2012 and cannot 

thank them enough for 

all the work they have 

put into raising this 

amazing amount and 

thanks also to the local 

community for buying 

so many raffle tickets. 

The prizes have been 

terrific and we can’t 

A Big Thank You From HAH Mar Menor 

As so many of our volunteers were going away 

over Christmas, an early Christmas Lunch was 

held at the Novo Carthago Restaurant in Los 

Urrutias on December 2 nd . 60 volunteers, their 

partners and friends sat down to a traditional 

3 course lunch with all the trimmings. 

Thanking everyone for their hard work, Lesley 

Eburne, HAH founder said “The success of 

HAH is down to you. Your care, commitment 

and willingness to help wherever needed, always 

with a smile, means so much to everyone 

and has earned the gratitude and respect 

of our clients and the local community. We 

would also like to thank our main Sponsors, 

SL Coachtrips, DFS, Bacchus Restaurant and 

La Manga Graphics, along with so many local 

businesses who continue to support us. Special 

thanks also to our wonderful local media 

for all their help, ensuring that our stories and 

events are publicised and reaching as many 

people as possible. Thank you all for playing 

such a big part in our success.” 

If you would like information or would like to 

become a volunteer in the Mar Menor area, 

email helpathomespain@gmail.com or visit 

www.helpathome.es 

Page 64 










Page 65 Page 65

More Ex-Forces Personnel in Prison than 

Serving in Afghanistan 

At the Hondon Valley British Legion AGM, 

the Chairman Dave Stewart advised us of 

some staggering statistics. 

He stated that there are 20,000 ex-forces 

personnel in prison or on probation; twice as 

many as are serving in Afghanistan, an increase 

of a third in the last 5 years. Many of these 

Veterans are suffering from undiagnosed Post 

Trauma Stress. More British Service Personnel 

who served in the Falklands have committed 

suicide, than were killed in the conflict. 

Last year, the Royal British Legion took 

1,485 calls from homeless ex-service 

personnel. By law, they should be offered 

accommodation as a priority, yet councils 

fail because of their long waiting lists. Others 

are denied home ownership because the 

heightened risk of suicide means they can’t 

get life insurance to guarantee a mortgage. 

Dave thanked everyone all over Spain, 

who supported The Royal British 

Legion and the Poppy Appeal. 

He promised that at the Christmas Party 

on 18th December at the Monte Alto 

Restaurant, Hondon de las Nieves, he 

would unveil the final amount raised 

by the Hondon Valley branch this year. 

Legion Members would welcome anyone to 

join them for their monthly meetings held on 

the 3 rd Tuesday of each month at Monte Alto. 

Absolutely Brilliant!! A Winner!! Looking 

Forward to the Next One!! 

The theme this year was Snow White and the 

7 Guiris which we all know by now is what our 

Spanish friends ‘fondly’ call expats, so again 

we took the mickey out of ourselves! 

All three shows were a sell out. We introduced 

some hilarious filmed sequences along the 

way which brought much laughter from the 

audience and along with them we enjoyed 

the antics of the Guiris; Noisy, Nosey, Boozy, 

Bossy, Paddy, Scotty and Posh and even the 

‘scary bits’ were funny. 


These were a few of the comments received 

after the recent Panto. The ADAPT Theatre 

Group has done it again with their usual 

‘Panto with a twist’ and wonderful comic 

writing from their production team. 

In true Pantomime tradition we had a lot of 

audience participation which the Spanish 

members of the audience thoroughly 

enjoyed. Children joined us on stage for 

dancing and at the finale all the audience stood 

up and joined in a noisy, happy rendition of 

‘The Time Warp’. Nobody wanted the show 

to end, including the cast. 

The proceeds of the show will go to help 

needy families in the San Pedro area. 

The next meeting of ADAPT will be on the 

first Saturday in February at the Pensionistas 

de Hogar in San Pedro at 10.30am. 

See our website for full information www. 

adaptsanpedro.eu 

Page 66 





A Time 4 A Change, El Algar 

Danny and Kerry took over ownership of A 

Time 4 A Change one year ago. During this 

time, the business has gone from strength to 

strength, continuing to be the biggest buyers 

and sellers of used furniture on the Costa 

Cálida. 

the recipes are very simple to follow. 

Kerry introduced a Ladies Clothing Agency, 

initially with only 3 members. She says “I 

cannot believe how well the Clothes Agency 

has progressed! I now have 34 ladies on the 

books who regularly bring me their unwanted 

quality clothes, which I then sell on a 20% 

commission basis. As I now need more room, 

I shall be sacrificing my office space upstairs 

to move the boutique up there!” 

Now brand new sofas can be purchased, with 

3 piece suites starting at €600. As well as 

furniture, you can also find a wide range of 

quality English bedding, including sheets, 

pillows and duvets. 

What was the boutique area is now available 

as a separate greetings card and book shop. 

There is a wide range of cards for all occasions, 

in English and Spanish, all at only €1.50 each. 

English paperbacks are just €1 for three! 

A Time 4 A Change is more than just a 

furniture store. Call in for a chat and a coffee. 

Danny and Kerry will make you feel most 

welcome. 

For more information call 968 136 501 or 

visit the website www.atime4achange.com 

Danny introduced his own range of Curry 

Kits, which contain a special mix of spices 

needed to make your favourite curry. He says 

“Because the Curry Kits have proved to be so 

popular, I have now introduced Korma and 

Bombay Potatoes, to the original selection 

of Madras, Tikka Masala, Jalfrezi, Kofta and 

Onion Bhajis” These kits are only €2 each and 






Page 67


Come Rain or Shine for MABS 

The MABS Cancer Support Group’s Book 

Stall at The Arches, The Oasis is a familiar 

sight for bookworms in Los Alcázares and surrounding 

areas. MABS volunteers, Malcolm 

and Val Vickery work tirelessly running the 

stall, come rain or shine, with a smile and a 

few words for everyone who calls by. 

Left to Right: Val Vickery, Malcolm Vickery and 

Ali Chaps (owner The Arches) with the MABS 

Certificate of Appreciation. 

Kindles and Tablets don’t seem to have made 

an impact on book sales because during 2012 

they have raised an incredible 6696€ for 

MABS Murcia. “I’m staggered that they have 

managed to raise such an amount on book 

sales.” remarked MABS Director, Lyn Baines. 

“Malcolm and Val are so conscientious about 

their book stall, turning up every Saturday 

without fail and they have established a good, 

regular clientele. I am very proud of them and 

would also like to thank Ali, the owner of The 

Arches, for her continuing support. It means 

a great deal to us.” 

The MABS Book Stall is open at The Arches 

every Saturday from 10am-1pm with books 

to suit all tastes. 

Photographer: Alfonso Fernandez 

San Javier Golf Society Raises Funds for 

MABS Murcia 

San Javier Golf Society maintained their tradition 

of nominating one of their regular meetings 

to raise funds for a local charity with a 

competition for the Captain’s Charity Trophy. 

Barry Beale, Captain for 2012/13, had chosen 

MABS Cancer Support Group as this year’s 

recipient and, on 21 st 

November, twenty 

eight players met at 

Peraleja Golf for the 

event. The competition 

was played as a 

Mystery Pairs Stableford, 

but players were 

left in no doubt that 

the main ‘winners’ on 

the day were going to 

be MABS. Janet Bell, 

Fundraising Co-ordinator 

for MABS, was 

on hand to see players 

off and there again in 

the afternoon to welcome 

them back and 

present the coveted 

trophy. 

Juan-Fran and the 

team at Peraleja Golf 

were most generous 

in their help with the 

event and a number 

of other members and 

guests had kindly donated 

prizes for the 

raffle and skill events 

during the day. The 

weather was good, 

with warm sunshine 

and little wind, and the 

recent rain had turned 

everything a pleasant 

green and there are 

real signs that things 

are improving and the 

tees and greens cannot 

be faulted. 

However, that did not seem to inspire the 

players, with nobody breaking net par and 

the overall scoring mostly leaving something 

to be desired – perhaps the occasion was 

greater than the play. The cards were paired 

up randomly at the end and congratulations 

went to Joe Flanagan & Ann Geary who lifted 

the trophy by 3 points from Bob Blair & Mark 

McGregor, with John Collins & Roger McGeagh 

a point further back in third. Skills prizes were 

won by John Collins, Ann Geary, Neil Robinson 

and Ian Wade. 

In his speech Captain Barry Beale thanked all 

at Paraleja, the members of the Committee 

who had put so much effort in to make the 

day a success, sponsors of prizes for their 

generosity and most importantly the members 

who had been so generous in their contributions 

to the pot. Janet Bell graciously accepted 

a cheque for 550€ from the Captain 

and expressed her gratitude to Barry and the 

Society members on behalf of MABS Murcia. 

Photographer: Geoff Bell 

Jenny Penny Star of Fayre 

Crafts of all types were demonstrated at a recent 

Craft Fayre at Café Golf, San Javier. The 

star of the show was definitely a beautifully 

hand-made dolly called ‘Jenny Penny’. She 

was the creation of Lyn Homer, who donated 

her to be raffled for MABS Cancer Support 

Group. Lyn is happy to take commissions to 

make a dolly to order, so please enquire at 

the MABS Cancer Centre, San Javier. 

Other crafts being demonstrated were scrapbooking, 

where beautiful albums can be 

made for special occasions, mosaic plaques 

and patch working. Shirley donated her handcraft 

cards to be sold for MABS and there 

was a water colour painting demonstration. 

Hand-made jewellery was also on sale. The 

fayre raised 112€, with the proceeds of the 

raffle to follow. MABS fundraiser, Janet Bell, 

who helped organise the event, thanked Nike 

and Neil of Café Golf for hosting the fayre for 

MABS Murcia. 

Photographer: Sue Thomason 

MABS Murcia is a registered charity (No. 

7261) offering help and support to local 

people of all nationalities who have been diagnosed 

with or are being treated for cancer. 

If you or someone you know would like 

some confidential help or support call our 

HELPLINE 693 275 779 or visit their website 

www.mabsmurcia.com 

Cancer Doesn’t Discriminate And Neither 

Do We 

MABS Helps All Those Affected By Cancer, 

Whatever Their Nationality 

Page 68 





A Truly 

Magical 

Christmas 

Evening at 

Easy Horse 

Care Rescue 

Centre 

The air was 

filled with 

Christmas 

love and the 

aroma of 

mulled wine, 

chestnuts 

and minced 

pies when the Rescue Centre held its 

fourth magical Christmas Carol Concert 

at Rojales. 

People came for miles to meet Santa and his 

four legged helpers, Dexter Elf (the mule) 

and our three little Rein-ponies Taffeta, 

Trixie-Belle and Little Miracle decked out 

in all their Christmas bling. The atmosphere 

was electric, lit with the aid of thousands of 

Christmas lights. The young children talked 

to Santa and helped him with his Rein-ponies 

and they had a chance to see all the 

horses snuggled down in their stables. 

of years of overwork. He is also severely 

mal-nutritioned. Why? Because the recession, 

his owner simply stopped feeding him 

and gave him to a riding school who decided 

they could not afford to keep him. He had 

worked hard all of his life for his owners 

and now, because he is old nobody cares 

or wants him. To put him to sleep humanely 

and dispose of the body would be a solution, 

however, it would cost his owner 450€ and 

nobody is prepared to pay this amount. The 

rescue centre was contacted and told that 

he was going to be given back to his original 

owner and would probably be left to die of 

slow starvation, or we could take him and 

give him a home. What would you do??? 

Of course we took him in to give him all the 

love and care he needs. He will finish the 

winter of his life with us alongside the other 

old horses in our care. When his time comes 

he will have known love, kindness, the companionship 

of other horses and hopefully a 

few years of happiness that he so rightly deserves. 

lobby local, national and European politicians, 

and take the message of what is being 

done to horses and other animals to a 

much wider audience. 

Everyone at Easy Horse Rescue Centre 

want to take this opportunity to thank everybody 

who has helped us during the year 

with their time, contributions and fantastic 

support. Come and visit us on our open days 

every Sunday 1-4pm, meet all our residents 

and hear their stories on our very popular 

horse tour. Delicious homemade Sunday 

lunches plus veggie options, cakes and refreshments 

also available. 

For more information call Sue on 652 021 

980 or email rescue@easyhorsecare.net. 

The EHCRC Calendars are still on sale for 

5€ at all 5 Charity Shops as well as at the 

Rescue Centre and from the Looking Good 

Boutique in La Zenia. 

Lots of traditional food and drinks were enjoyed 

and everyone enjoyed the fantastic 

entertainment provided by Cathy Carson 

and The Taabs Group who kept us royally 

entertained with their Christmas songs. 

Maybe we can’t change the world by saving 

one horse, but we have changed the world 

for all the beautiful horses that you have 

helped us to save. 

Sue Weeding warmly thanked everybody for 

all the work and contributions people had 

made during the year. Almost €500 was 

raised in what can only be described as a 

night of Pure Magic. 

Dallas’s Story 

He was born in 1988 and named Dallas 

after the popular TV series. He is 24 years 

old and no longer able to be ridden because 

The Gift of Life and 

Love 

Many people ask us, 

when visiting the rescue 

centre, how can 

you keep taking in 

horses, you have so 

many horses. Do you 

ever say no? 

Spanish Television 

Came to Fundación 

Easy Horse Care 

Rescue Centre 

Canal 9 came to the 

Fundación Easy 

Horse Care Rescue 

Centre as RTVV 

Guamipi arrived to 

film what happens at 

EHCRC. This is an extremely 

popular television 

show on Spanish 

TV which looks at 

what goes on in the 

animal world in the 

Valencia region and 

picks up on stories 

about animals. 

Sue, who with her 

husband Rod started 

the Centre, explained 

what EHCRC sets out 

to achieve. The recent 

change to a foundation 

means that 

EHCRC can now raise 

a membership list to 






Page 69

New to the Costa Cálida, the award winning 

PunctureSafe is an innovative compound 

which is injected into your tyres through the 

valve, (no need to remove the wheel) and it 

is a PERMANENT solution to punctures, as it 

seals the puncture, as soon as you get one. 

It is not a ‘get me home’ product but lasts for 

the life of the tyre, so no matter how many 

punctures you have in the tyre, Puncture- 

Safe will cope. It also helps the tyre-wear, 

because it keeps the tyre cooler whilst it is 

running. 

Important in hot climates like Spain, PunctureSafe 

is a mobile service which can come 

to your place of business or your home. An 

installation generally takes about 20 minutes 

and is done by our trained technicians, so it 

can be done whilst you play sport, shop or 

have a snack. 

If you get a puncture: 

Do you want to (or can you) change a tyre if 

you get a puncture? 

Can you speak enough Spanish to tell the 

Grua where you are? 

Do you know where you are? 

Does your mobile have service? 

Will it still be light? 

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, 

then PunctureSafe is the ideal solution for 

you. 

PunctureSafe starts from 60€ per car and 

40€ per motorbike, although we can install 

into anything with tyres like quads, mountain 

bikes and mobility vehicles. We are members 

of the CRA discount scheme, so bring your 

membership card when you call us. 

A local businessman, living in and proudly 

serving the people of the Mazarrón area, call 

Alan on 968 979 260/634 355 709. 

Email: 

puncturesafemurcia@runbox.com 

Website: 

www.puncturesafemurcia.com 

Facebook:www.facebook.com/Puncture- 

SafeMurcia 


New Year 

Resolutions 

At the 

beginning 

of each New 

Year, for some 

strange force 

of habit, many 

people make 

their New Year 

resolutions. 

I suppose 

the New 

Year brings 

about a sense 

of change, 

inspired motivation and seemingly dogged 

determination to make it a better year for 

ourselves. 

Having said that, statistics indicate that a 

majority of resolutions are broken, fizzed 

out or tossed by the wayside approximately 

3 weeks after being made! Why? Perhaps 

one of the first questions we have to ask 

ourselves is, “Was the New Year resolution 

realistic, practical and achievable, or did we 

make our resolutions for the sake of it?” 

Whether you choose to lose weight, get a new 

job or invest in personal development, always 

ensure that the goal you set for yourself is 

realistic, attainable and time appropriate. 

There is no point in losing weight just because 

someone made a rude comment; you have to 

want to do it for yourself. It also helps to have 

a supportive network of friends to boost your 

motivational levels when it begins to wane. 

Whatever goal you choose, enjoy the journey 

and keep focused on the goal. It will be worth 

it in the end. 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish 

all readers a Happy New Year and all things 

wonderful for 2013. 

Jennifer 

Time Wasted 

Dear Jennifer, 

Over the last few months, I found myself 

comfort eating. I have had so many 

personal and financial problems in 2012, 

that food was my only comfort. Naturally, 

I put on weight which I felt made me look 

better and curvier. However, my husband 

made some cruel remarks in front of 

some friends at a social event which 

embarrassed me and now I feel forced to 

lose weight because of it. Surely he could 

have been more sympathetic considering 

what we went through as a couple, but I 

feel that if I don’t lose weight, he could 

leave me for someone much slimmer. 

I don’t want to lose him and can’t face 

another disappointing year, yet the more 

the tears flow, the more I reach for food. 

I can’t stop and it is making me sad by 

the day to the point that I have stopped 

looking at my reflection in the mirror. 

Help! 

Jane of Los Alcazares. 

Dear Jane, 

There are many women who face similar 

challenges and it does hurt. However, it is 

often not what you eat but “WHY”. Emotional 

triggers are the cause of obesity and if left 

unabated, it becomes 

a negative habit that 

is fuelled by “triggerresponse” 

behaviour. 

To stop this from 

happening, you need 

to acknowledge the 

emotional issues 

that are the cause 

and try to resolve it. 

With the economy 

the way it is at the 

moment, many people 

have faced similar 

personal and financial 

disappointments. 

Some have chosen to take up exercise, yoga, 

meditation or join a weight loss club where 

there is a supportive network of people facing 

the same challenges as you. 

However, you need to do this for yourself and 

not because you are being coerced by your 

husband. If the relationship is worth keeping, 

then discuss your issues with him and ask 

him for emotional support, not emotional 

criticism. If he can’t, then you need to ask 

yourself some frank questions about the 

health of your relationship. - Jennifer. 

Dear Jennifer, 

My twin sister and I have always been 

close, as twins often are, but 9 months 

ago, I voiced my disapproval of her new 

boyfriend which caused friction between 

us. We have not spoken in these 9 months 

and the guilt has been playing heavily on 

my mind. I have been tempted so often 

to pick up the phone and apologise, but 

my pride always gets the better of me, 

especially as my intuition about her 

boyfriend was right. He was horrible to 

her. Should I apologise even though I 

was in the right? 

Sam, Mazarrón 

Dear Sam, 

Pride should not keep you from reaching out 

to your sister. It does not matter who was 

right or wrong in this situation, but the fact 

is that it has caused friction, sadness and 

frustration between twin sisters. She may 

have been hurting herself and may have 

tried to reach out to you herself, but you will 

never know for sure unless you speak with 

her. Don’t let pride continue to alienate you 

from her. Why not use the New Year as an 

olive branch and be the first to make contact. 

At least you will know where you stand with 

her. It can go both ways. You may be able to 

resolve your differences or not. Time will tell. 

Give her call even if it is just to wish her well 

for the New Year. – Jennifer 

If you would like Jennifer to answer any of 

your questions, email her at: jennifer@ 

lifemaxxinternational.com. Jennifer is a 

certified Life Coach and Emotional Wellness 

Coach. 

Page 70 









Page 71

New Year – New You! 

It’s a New Year! You don’t need me to tell 

you that 2013 is here with a bang! Thankfully 

if you are reading this The Mayan Prophecies 

interpretations were wrong, so now is the time 

to make those changes for your future. The 

start of January is always a time to sit back and 

think of the goals you intend accomplishing 

this year. Perhaps you’ve grown tired of the 

whole New Year’s Resolution tradition and 

are more used to breaking them within two 

hours than keeping them for an entire day. 

Why should this year be the same? 

Why shouldn’t 2013 be the year for success; 

be the year for attaining those long sought 

after goals or finally doing something you’ve 

only ever dreamt of doing? 

Rather than taking the passive route, why not 

take the proactive route, taking our lives in 

our hands and really going out for what we 

need rather than letting it slowly pass us by? 

Why not take the bull by the horns and really 

live our lives to the full? 

One of those proactive routes is to make 

certain changes in your life. Firstly, you need 

to decide which parts of your life you don’t 

like, which make you unhappy and which are 

holding you back. You then need to assimilate 

how you’re going to combat this negativity 

and then you take that first step towards 

change. 

Whether this year it’s a desire to stop smoking, 

or a desire to lose weight, or even leave that 

relationship that is doing nothing but dragging 

you down, remember, it’s a fresh start and a 

fresh you! Because that is the ultimate goal; 

a You that you can be proud of; a You that 

you’re happy to be. 

Maybe it’s not as easy as that. Maybe you 

need a helping hand to take that bull by its 

horns and if so, there is absolutely nothing 

wrong with that and it’s where someone like 

Mark Phoenix comes into play. 

Hypnotherapy’s efficacy comes from the 

power of suggestion and you should never 

underestimate the potency of that. It also 

delves deep to the real reason you smoke, 

seeks the root of your tendency to overeat, 

or why you’ve made no move to leave that 

destructive relationship. Nothing happens 

without a purpose and hypnotherapy searches 

for that purpose and then with the power of 

suggestion, can combat it and in most cases, 

cancel it out. 

To make that first step is an important 

psychological progression. You’re no longer 

living passively and are on the right track. 

Maybe that should be your New Year’s 

Resolution. Rather than to generally exclaim 

that you’re going to quit smoking for example, 

maybe you should say, I’m going to get 

help and change my life for good. 

There’s no better time to start than now and 

if you’re ready to take that first step, then 

Mark is here to help. 

Mark offers a free initial 30 minute consultation 

for all issues listed. 

Mark Phoenix Murphy Adv.Dhp MIAPH MNRAH 

is the only legally registered HypnoBand 

Practitioner (the revolutionary weight 

loss SYSTEM as seen on Embarrassing 

Bodies on Channel 4 and E4) on the Costa 

Blanca and Costa Cálida. 

Mark, for your piece of mind, is also 

registered in Spain and has a Spanish 

Governing body. He is a consultant Clinical 

Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist, Pure 

HypnoAnalyst. If you have any issues with 

anxiety, depression, stress, or need a helping 

hand during hard times then call Mark on 654 

202 996 or visit www.HypnoSpain.com 

for more details about Mark’s clinics. 


Surprise, surprise - it is likely that we 

have experienced this in our lives. Is it an 

emotion or an event? I don’t know. I know 

that some people do not like surprises and 

others revel in them. 

17 billion times more massive than our 

Sun. What is? The latest discovery of 

a Black Hole in space. This thing is huge 

and because it makes up so much of the 

mass of the relevant galaxy it has surprised 

astronomers. ie - we are talking 14% of 

the total mass against the accepted norm 

of 0.1%. I just know you are as fascinated 

by this as I am. I also read this week that 

Voyager 1 is now at the edge of our Solar 

system, 11 billion miles from earth! Its 

journey through a magnetic highway will 

take a while - scientists estimate a “few 

months to a couple of years”. 

Were these scientists all builders in a 

previous life? Anyway my point is that new 

discoveries often surprise us. Why should 

we be surprised then when we read that 

God came to earth as a baby - just had that 

last month. Oh and also in a few months we 

will remember that Jesus actually died for 

us and rose again. 

We are quite happy to accept that there 

are surprises in the 

world around us and 

in our discoveries of 

the universe, but we 

seem to struggle with 

the God of surprises 

who planned long 

before we were 

created to provide us 

with a way to spend 

eternity with Him. 

Funny that isn’t it? 

Perhaps at the start 

of a New Year we 

should take a closer 

look at God who is 

not surprised by anything or anyone, but 

continually surprises us? 

“For I know the plans I have for you”, says 

the LORD. “They are plans for good and 

not for disaster, to give you a future and a 

hope….Jeremiah 29 v 11 

Look out for our Burn’s events in January - 

21 st January at Cehegin and 25 th January at 

our home in Los Almagros. 

Further details and other plans go to 

http://open-door.wix.com/open-door 

If you would like to be informed of our events 

and be added to our mailing list please 

let us know at opendoorgettogether@ 

gmail.com 

Find us at Los Almagros, Fuente Alamo, 

30320, Murcia. GPS: 37”45’ 57.77’ North. 

1” 15’ 56.95’ West 

Phone Ken 646 705 403 or Carol 655 

141 721 

Page 72 









Page 73

Stressed Cats 

The cat is an animal that due to its features, 

tend to suffer from stress when the 

environment around it changes. Some of 

the situations causing stress in our cats 

are: 

* Changes in the home may occur. 

The established order in the previous 

home has gone, such as the 

facial marks, and the areas for the 

cat to relax, play and urinate and 

defecate. 

* You may be having reformation 

works or changes in the home by 

painting etc or you may be changing 

the furniture. 

* There may be new people at home, 

such as a new baby, visitors or new 

cats or other animals. 

* Your circumstances may have 

changed so that the cat now has to 

stay alone at home for long periods 

of time or under the care of unfamiliar 

people. 

* You might have to come to the vet’s, 

kennels, etc. 

The way in which a stressed cat reacts can 

be focused on: 

* Passiveness: the animal may try 

to hide in different places, where it 

will feel himself safer, for some days 

or weeks. 

* Marking excess: the animal insists 

on marking its territory in two ways. 

The first one is rubbing itself against 

the wall to leave its facial pheromones 

over it and which will calm it 

down when it recognises them. The 

second one is really disturbing and 

is aimed at its competitors. It consists 

of marking the different areas 

of the environment with its claws 

and urinating and defecating out of 

its litter tray. 

* Aggressiveness: Another way for 

cats to respond to stress is by being 

aggressive towards other animals or 

the owner. 


If your cat has developed one of these 

three symptoms, the first thing we have to 

do is to rule out if this is due to a physical 

problem, or is it really motivated by stress. 

We have four action ways to try to correct 

these behavioural problems. 

* To reduce stress. 

* Give the cat places that make it feel 

safer, like a simple box and avoid all 

disturbing situations. 

* Treat it softly. Don’t touch the cat 

unnecessarily, because it will not 

like it and it will only make it more 

scared. Never tell it off, or shout at 

it. That would only contribute to increase 

its fear. We are used to hierarchy 

and discipline with dogs, but 

cats, due to their primitive lonely 

instinct, don’t see us as chiefs or 

leaders; we are just equals. 

* Education. Play with the cat with 

balls, ropes, sticks etc. Use positive 

reinforcement such as prizes, stroking 

and not negative ones such as 

water guns. 

* Medical and/or surgical treatments. 

Certain psychotropic medicines and 

the castration of male cats can efficiently 

help to solve these problems. 

* Pheromonotherapy. In almost all 

the situations causing stress, the 

application of the F3 pheromone 

minimizes the adaptation periods 

and reduces the tension in cats living 

at home. They may also help 

with many of the diseases such as 

idiomatic cystitis, anorexia, bulimia, 

compulsive licking, etc. 

Article written and supplied by Paco, 

Clinica Veterinaria, Puerto de Mazarrón 

Page 74 





By the time you all read this I should have 

returned from the UK where we spent 

Christmas with family and friends. We did, 

however, manage to get in our fair share 

of Christmas parties and eating out before 

we left. 

The first of these was held at The Steak 

-Out on Camposol B on 8 th December where 

we had a great night of entertainment by 

Nigel Birchill as “Elvis” who also does a 

bit of Meatloaf too! 

Our girls’ night out for Christmas was a 

week later where we had a lovely meal at 

Chez Zoe in Puerto de Mazarrón and we 

ended up back at The Steak-Out again. 

Eddie B from Costa Cálida International 

Radio is the DJ there every Friday night 

playing great music from all the decades. 

There is a new restaurant now open on 

The Hacienda de Alamo Resort called “La 

Terraza” which can be found upstairs at 

The Spaniard Inn. We were a group of 

14 people and the evening started with 

Christmas Carols courtesy of “Open Door” 

and then a very authentic Spanish 6 course 

meal. The food and service were excellent 

and we will definitely be returning. There 

is an outdoor terrace which will be a lovely 

setting for dinner during the warmer 

weather. 

With my love for traditional Sunday roast 

dinners, this time we chose Restaurant 

Manchica which is set in the lovely little 

hamlet of La Manchica, the other side 

of Fuente Alamo. We had a 3 course 

meal with coffee and drinks for a very 

reasonable price, and I have to say the 

standard of food was truly excellent. There 

was a choice of 3 meats and countless 

vegetables, including my favourite which is 

cauliflower cheese. It is also a pretty drive 

out on a Sunday and must be visited. 

More next month and Happy New Year 

everyone! 

Teresa 





Page 75

Ask any member of my family who eats the 

most salad, and the answer would be “Liz, 

she´s like a rabbit!” and it is true that I have 

long favoured tasty salad leaves over limp 

vegetables to accompany my meal. I love 

salad as a main course, but here in Spain 

have struggled to find acceptable salads 

with enough substance to qualify as a meal. 

Over the years I have tried many places, but 

the salad always seems to be designed as a 

side dish or I´m offered a plate of iceberg 

lettuce and a bit of egg(!) so I was delighted 

to recently try the new Italian restaurant 

Mamma Mia, at the end of the marina in 

Puerto de Mazarrón, where the fresh and 

tasty salads were delightful. 

The restaurant offers a wide selection of 

meals, with more traditional pizzas and pasta 

dishes for you to enjoy. The Menu del Día is 

10€ on weekdays and includes 1 drink; 12€ at 

weekends and Fiestas. 

I chose a simple Tuna Mixed Salad at 6.50€ 

and my friend chose pizza. Whilst waiting 

for our drinks, the waiter brought some 

tasty, small flatbreads for us to nibble. When 

the food arrived, the pizza was declared 

“excellent” and my salad was probably the 

best I have tasted here in Spain - plenty of 

tuna, fresh mixed leaves, finely sliced olives 

and a gorgeous Balsamic dressing. The 

portions were generous and after my salad 

and a few tasty breadsticks from the bread 

basket, I was full. 

We did manage to refuse dessert (too close to 

Christmas at time of writing!), but the Spanish 

group opposite were indulging and all the 

desserts looked very tempting. After coffee 

we were also offered a glass of Limoncello, a 

lovely way to end the meal. 

I can see me breaking a few New Year´s 

resolutions on the return visit, as the 

attentive staff and lovely setting made for a 

very pleasant dining experience. 

Mamma Mia is open 6 days a week (closed 

on Tuesdays) 12pm to 4,30pm and 6pm until 

late. 

Call 628 682 303 to book in English or 968 

153 049. 

Rating: (out of 5) 

Quality : 

Service : 

Value for Money : 

Location / setting : 


Nutmeg is the seed of the evergreen Myristica 

tree, which is still found mainly on 

the islands of Indonesia. The Nutmeg tree 

is important for not only the spice Nutmeg, 

but also for Mace. 

The fruit is light yellow with red and green 

markings, resembling an apricot or a large 

plum. As the fruit matures, the outer fleshy 

covering bursts to reveal the seed. The 

seed is covered with red membranes called 

an aril, the mace portion of the Nutmeg. 

The nut is then dried for up to 2 months 

until the inner nut rattles inside the shell. It 

is then shelled to reveal the valuable eggshaped 

nutmeat which is the edible Nutmeg. 

The Nutmeg can come as the whole 

seed, or in powdered form. As the seed, 

Nutmeg is egg-shaped and usually weighs 

between 5 and 10 grammes. It is still relatively 

expensive and years ago Nutmeg 

was kept in a special wooden container. 

Nutmeg is used in many different styles of 

cooking. Once it is ground, Nutmeg soon 

loses the oils which provide its flavour and 

taste, so grating fresh Nutmeg is recommended 

to achieve the full benefit of the 

fresh oils. It and Mace have similar sensory 

qualities, with Nutmeg having a slightly 

sweeter and mace a more delicate flavour. 

Mace is often preferred in light dishes for 

the bright orange it imparts. Nutmeg is 

used for flavouring many dishes, usually in 

ground or grated form, and is best grated 

fresh in a Nutmeg grater. In general, a 

Nutmeg grater is a tool with a fine rasp 

and a slightly curved surface. By rubbing 

the Nutmeg over the grater’s curved surface, 

the seed can be ground. Some graters 

have back units or containers meant 

for storing the Nutmeg, while others have 

containers with turning handles that grate 

the Nutmeg from the inside. Antique Nutmeg 

boxes can be very decorative in silver 

or wood have become very collectable. 

Nutmeg is added to other spices in curries 

etc in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine, 

but it can also be added to sweet dishes 

such as rice pudding and other milk based 

desserts. 

Nutmeg is widely used in the perfumery 

and pharmaceutical industries in products 

such as toothpaste and cough medicine. 

Nutmeg and Nutmeg Oil were used for 

disorders related to the nervous and digestive 

systems. The Nutmeg Oil is colourless 

and is used as a natural food flavouring in 

baked products, syrups, drinks and sweets. 

In Elizabethan times, Nutmeg was believed 

to ward off the plague and it therefore 

became very expensive, especially as 

Indonesia was the only place that Nutmeg 

could be found. Once the British took control 

of the Banda Islands in Indonesia, they 

managed to transplant the Nutmeg trees 

to places like Malaysia and Singapore. 

Records show that Nutmeg has been used 

for centuries as a form of snuff and a semidrug 

for students, prisoners and sailors. 

Page 76 









Page 77

Quiz questions on the 

December 2012 Costa 

Cálida Chronicle 

1. Who claims to have a 

slot in “A Place in the 

Sun”? 

2. Where will you find a 

Chestnut Fool? 

3. Who is “Spangles”? 

4. What does “A Time 4 A 

Change” offer you? 

5. What was the herb of 

the month in December? 

6. Who are the new manages 

of Tel’s Bar? 

7. What year did the Indian 

Ocean that the tsunamis 

happen? 

8. What does Philip Peacock 

do? 

9. Who was last month’s 

Author? 

10. Who claims that December 

is the last time 

they will pay your extra 

3% I.V.A (VAT)? 


Answers on page 102 

ACROSS 

1 Sells tickets 

7 Syrian bishop 

11 Supersonic transport 

14 American state 

15 Parent teacher groups 

16 Spider’s net 

17 A number between 1 

and 20 

18 Clever word plays 

19 Past 

20 Reason 

22 Sundial pointer 

24 Swish 

27 Snooze 

29 Smart 

30 Afloat 

32 Computer language, 

looks like algebra 

35 Roller glider 

37 Paul’s former name 

38 Assist 

41 Calm 

42 Not brunette 

44 Night bird 

45 Blood carrier 

48 U.S. President Johnson 

49 Supply water to 

51 Snaky fish 

52 In addition 

55 Be incorrect 

56 South southeast 

57 Arm muscles 

60 Artist Andrew 

64 Also known as (abbr.) 

65 Western state 

67 African country 

71 Swamp 

72 Pa 

73 Subordinate 

74 Dynamite 

75 Cain’s brother 

76 Bobbysock 

DOWN 

1 That girl 

2 Calorie 

3 Marvel 

4 Molten rock 

5 Support 

6 Intone 

7 Comes into sight 

8 Energy unit 

9 Sound 

10 Association (abbr.) 

11 Hindu teacher 

12 Sego lilies’ bulbs 

13 Cut of beef 

21 Spanish “one” 

23 Possess 

24 Noose 

25 Awry 

26 Gem 

28 School group 

31 Snacked 

32 Let go 

33 Shekel 

34 Member of an alliance 

36 Covet 

38 Type of mint 

39 Gods 

40 Compact 

43 Less than two 

46 Wrath 

47 Arctic toothed whale 

49 Garden tool 

50 Sample 

52 Toward the rear of the 

ship 

53 Compare 

54 Meager 

58 Insect in a cocoon 

59 Prick 

61 Writer Bombeck 

62 Matched 

63 Ball player __ Aaron 

66 Gorilla 

68 Zero 

69 Fawn’s mom 

70 Colony insect 

Page 78 





Once again last month we were able to 

help all our applicants financially, so don’t 

struggle with that unexpected vets bill, 

contact us. 

A w a r d s 

this month 

i n c l u d e 

Chicle a 

little dog who 

hadn’t eaten 

for four days 

and upon 

examination 

it was found 

that he had 

swallowed 

a stone 

which was blocking his digestive system. 

Fortunately we were able to help organise 

and contribute to an emergency operation 

for him and he has now fully recovered and 

has regained his healthy appetite. 

Furniture Pickup Service & House 

Clearance 

If you are downsizing, moving house or 

just want to get rid of some clutter we can 

help. Try our 50/50 scheme. We can take 

anything from a single large item up to a 

full house contents, including household 

and garden furniture and white goods. We 

will collect the larger items free of charge, 

display them in our shop to ensure that 

you receive the best possible price for them 

and then forward your 50% share of the 

proceeds to you. 

Please contact us if you need help:- 

Tel 666 186 037 or call at the shop 

Email mazarronanimalmedi-aid@ 

hotmail.com 

Registered Charity No 9537/1a 

Also we were contacted by the local police 

who had found mum Linda with eight 

puppies abandoned and in distress near 

Fuente Alamo. One of the pups had a hernia 

and another one an infected eye. We were 

able to help with their treatment and the 

mother who has now been spayed and is 

waiting to go to Germany. The pups are now 

looking for new homes so if you can help 

contact Joan on 968 159 806 

Also as usual our ongoing programme 

of helping with spaying and castration 

continues. Which means that you can look 

after the pets you care for without having to 

worry about new arrivals. 

Can We Help You and Your Pet? 

Have you provided a home for an animal 

from a rescue centre or shelter for a stray 

dog or cat? Don’t struggle to pay those Vet 

bills on your own; get in touch with us. 

We are here to help you. We can provide 

financial assistance towards the cost of 

spaying or castrating your new pet and also 

with those unexpected vet bills, if funds are 

available. 

To do this we need your donations and 

would be grateful for any items such as 

clothes, bric-a-brac, cd’s/dvd’s and electrical 

goods. You can donate at the shop, Mon to 

Sat 10am-2pm. (Take the third left after 

Barclays Bank on your way into Puerto de 

Mazarron.) Check out our website to see 

furnishings for sale. 

For full details go to mazarronanimalmediaid.co.uk 

Camposol Drop-Off Point 

Every Tuesday we are on Camposol B Sector 

car park 10am-1pm. We will take any 

saleable items no matter how large or small 

to raise money in order to help other people 

with the medical expenses for their cats and 

dogs. 

Fuente Alamo 

You can leave items at M& S stores, The 

Dog Bowl, Fuente Alamo every Friday Until 

12pm. 





Page 79

NEST – Nature Espuña Trails January/Feb 

2013 - easy, non-sporty, social walks 

Friday 4 th January – Fossilized Dinosaur’s 

Footprint – Meet in El Berro car park 10.30 

(Was Thurs 3 rd ) 

See a fossilized dinosaur’s footprint and an 

easy short rope bridge with a flat wooden 

base. Bring cameras - snap yourselves 

looking adventurous, although anyone can do 

it! NEST walks are very easy social outings 

and we always cater to the slower people. 

Please wear footwear for rubbly rural paths, 

water to sip, and a smile! Optional meal in 

an authentic Spanish mountain restaurant 

where we might see wild boar! The walk is 5€ 

and the delicious meal - salad, starter, main 

course, dessert and a drink plus coffee - is 

9€. 

www.monasteriosantaeulalia.com/en/ 

show/photos/Outside-the-hotel 

Wednesday 20th February - Almond 

Blossom Walk Meet - 10.30am El Berro 

village car park opp the Restaurant Sierra 

Espuña and Camping Sierra Espuña. 

Mass in English is celebrated every 

Saturday at the Catholic chapel at Pastrana, 

approximately 10km from Mazarrón 

Schedule of Masses: 

Saturday at 4:30pm 

Schedule of Confession: 

Saturday from 3:45-4:25pm also on request 

Bible Study: 

1 st and 3 rd Sunday at 4:30pm 

Fr. Carlos Prats 628 824 555 

Fr. Octavio Carpena 676 219 445 

www.pastranaonline.com 

Jesus Wishes 

For Our 

New Year’s 

Resolutions 

Love one 

another as I 

have loved you 

(Jn. 15-12) 


Friday 18 th January - NEST Photography 

Group - Outing in Cartagena for 

photography enthusiasts. If you love 

photography, beginner or pro, join us! Get in 

touch first - this is not a ‘walk’. 

Wednesday 30 st January - La Santa 

Monastery (Was Thurs. 31 st ) 10.30am 

in La Santa car park. (Between Totana and 

Aledo). Easy 3 hr circular walk via Aledo with 

spectacular views, before (optionally) eating 

at La Santa Monastery. Driving directions are 

on the NEST website. It costs appx 10€ plus 

drinks and the decor is worth it! See http:// 

Spectacularly pretty walk with honey-scented 

Almond Blossom, followed by a drive through 

fields of more Almond Blossom to a buzzy, 

authentic Spanish restaurant near Mula. This 

is a very popular outing! 

Please book & wait for confirmation, giving 

Spanish contact phone number and full 

names, either by text/tel to 679 002 147 or 

email natureespunatrails@gmail.com 

Register at http://www.nestwalks.info 

to get more dates! Facebook https://www. 

facebook.com/natureespunatrails 

Looking forward to seeing you all! 

Help me Jesus, 

that what I ask 

of You (Mercy) 

I will give to 

others in word 

and deed. 

Help me, O 

Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that 

I may never suspect or judge others, but 

always look for what is beautiful and good in 

other people. 

Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so 

that I may give heed to others needs, and not 

be indifferent to their pain. 

Help my, O Lord, that my tongue may be 

merciful, so that I should never speak 

wrongly of others but have a word of comfort 

and forgiveness for all. 

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be 

merciful and filled with good deeds so that 

I may do only good to others and always try 

to take upon myself the more difficult tasks. 

Help me, O Lord, that my feet may be 

merciful, so that I may hurry to assist others, 

overcoming my own fatigue and weariness 

contemplating Your love and mercy. 

Help me O Lord, to forgive and forget. This is 

Your greatest gift to me, and should be mine 

for your sake, to all who offend me. 

O Lord, behold here before You a soul who 

exists in this world in order to allow You to 

exercise Your admirable MERCY and manifest 

it before heaven and earth. Others may 

glorify You through their faithfulness and 

perseverance, thus making evident the power 

of Your grace. How sweet and generous You 

are to those who are faithful to You! 

Nevertheless I will glorify You by acquainting 

others of Your goodness to all sinners and 

reminding them that Your MERCY is above 

all malice, that nothing can exhaust it, and 

that no relapse, no matter how shameful or 

criminal, should allow the sinner to despair of 

HIS Forgiveness and MERCY. 

Page 80 









Page 81

Hi it’s Shannon here again and I’m going 

to tell you about the Harlequin Rock Choir 

Concert that took place at our house. Andy 

arrived early to set up the sound system 

with the help of a technician. The speakers 

didn´t work very well at first, but they got 

them working before everyone arrived. We 

were raising funds for Operation Smile, a 

charity that helps children with cleft lips all 

over the world. Ninety-five people turned up 

and all the seats were filled. The choir was 

excellent. There were twenty five members 

and they all sang their hearts out. There 

were even a few modern songs played and 

five brave soloists sung as well. Everyone 

sat glued to the choir and there was even 

some dancing amongst the crowd. Mum and 

Dad had prepared a barbecue of hot dogs 

beforehand and everyone grabbed one or 

two; or in Nathan´s case a few more than 

two! Dad and the boys had gathered twigs 

earlier so we could have a big bonfire to 

keep us all warm as the concert was held 

outside in the garden. What a bonfire it 

was! It was huge! Thankfully, the rain held 

off and we all appreciated a dry sky. The 

fire lasted all the way through the night. 

Our friend Patrick sang a few songs during 

the interval and evoked more clapping and 

cheering from the crowd. Everyone enjoyed 

themselves and had a great time. The choir 

sang brilliantly. They had been practising 

for weeks before as this was their first live 

concert. They were all a bit nervous, but 

you could not tell. We raised 472€ on the 

night and that is just about 3 smiles. We 

would like to thank everyone very much for 

coming as there were a lot of new faces and 

hopefully they will come again to our next 

Open Door Event. I can´t wait for the next 

thing we do, although when you read this, 

we will have probably done it as I know we 

are Carol singing at The Spaniard Inn soon. 

Maybe look out for our Burn’s night event! 


Hello again, Connor here with more news 

of what I have been up to this past month. 

This time I am going to tell you about having 

Peter Gammons with us. Peter Gammons 

is a very famous Christian who has rallies 

to heal people and to pray for people. He 

was staying in a hotel in Puerto de Mazarron, 

Hi, Nathan 

here again 

and today 

I am going 

to tell you 

about my 

birthday. 

November 

22 nd saw 

me turn 

12 years 

old and 

as I came 

downstairs 

in the 

morning 

I saw 

Shannon 

and Connor waiting for me. When we finally 

persuaded Dad to stop working, it was 

time for me to have my birthday presents. 

Shannon gave me a led light in the shape 

of a car. It changes colour when it is lit up. 

but he came round to us every night for his 

dinner, otherwise he would not have much 

contact with humans all day. On Sunday 

18 th he was giving a talk on how he became 

a Christian and what he does all over the 

world at one of our Open Door meetings. 

The meeting started at 5pm and Peter came 

here for his lunch beforehand. He was 

very funny. He told jokes and had us all in 

stitches all afternoon. When it was time for 

the meeting, Peter answered everyone´s 

questions and took the whole evening 

seriously. Some people were healed as well. 

It was a good night. Peter stayed for a while 

after everyone had gone home and we had 

some good chats. He came here every day 

after that for his dinner and we all laughed 

and really got know each other. I haven´t 

laughed so much for ages. He was going on 

to do more rallies in Torrevieja, so he had to 

leave us the following Thursday. He said he 

would miss us all, but would be back next 

It looks good in my bedroom. Connor gave 

me a card telling me that he had not got me 

anything. He did buy me something later 

in the day when we went shopping for me 

to spend my birthday money. I was given 

a new football, to stop the arguments with 

Connor and his ball and Bri and Mo gave 

me a couple of lovely new jumpers. That 

was good because I had mine stolen from 

the house when we were burgled. Usually, 

we open the gift from Mum and Dad last, 

but this year Mum said I had to open the 

one from my sister Sarah last. I opened 

the gift from Mum and Dad and saw that it 

was a tablet! You know, it looks like a huge 

phone or a small laptop! Sarah had bought 

me a case to keep it in and the case has a 

keyboard built in it, so it makes my tablet like 

a net book. I was really surprised, as I have 

been asking for a tablet for ages and never 

thought I would get one. When we were 

shopping with my money, I bought a one 

man tent that goes up in 2 seconds! Perfect 

year. It was sad to see him go, and I really 

hope he does come back. Until next month. 

for when we go on our next caravan holiday. 

Bri and Mo came over for a Mexican meal of 

wraps and then we played on the Wii. It was 

a really great day and I had a great time. I 

can use my tablet for school when I have to 

go onto the Internet to research anything. It 

is so cool. Until next time. 

Page 82 


To Sales place Contact an advertisement Teresa 619 with 199 us 407 please or for see the page Editor 5 or Contact contact Patti Teresa 64619 005199 017407 



December has been a period of huge 

celebrations for Helping Hands, resulting 

in 2012 ending on a high. 

The final event of the year featuring The 

Liverpool Band was a complete sell out 

and once again a good time was had by 

everyone. 

The team were able to announce the 

exciting news that Doña Beatriz of the Hotel 

Puerto Juan Montiel now joins the Charity. 

Her love of animals and desire to help others 

less fortunate will no doubt bring a wealth 

of opportunities to the future of the charity. 

One week later the opening of their new, 

much larger, Charity Shop in Aguilas took 

place; the inauguration carried out by Beatriz 

and covered by Aguilas TV. This coverage in 

itself has already benefitted the charity by 

bringing information about the shop directly 

into the homes of local residents during the 

following week. 

Now, looking forward to 2013, Helping 

Hands are already finalising their events 

schedule for 2013, commencing with a 

special fundraising night on January 26. 

This event is designed to specifically raise 

funds for a new Charity Shop opening jointly 

between Ibizan Hounds and Galgos del Sol, 

registered charities. The shop, already 

sourced, is desperately in need of fittings 

which Helping Hands hope to be able to 

finance from this event. 

The icing on the cake came just before 

Christmas when they were told that the 

Fuente Old Guard Golf Society have selected 

Helping Hands to be their chosen charity 

for 2013. 

For further information on Helping Hands 

please contact Linda on 968482948. 





Page 83

RED – Entertainment 

ORANGE – Special menus 

PURPLE –Market, exhibitions, leisure & meetings 

GREEN – Charity & non-profit making events 

BLACK – Fiestas & important events 

Please refer to the relevant advert or editorial for more details of events 

Every Mon 

Yoga & Pilates with Wendy @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, 9.30am 

Yoga with Mari Carmen @ Bolnuevo, 10am 

Fit4Life Group/exercise/positive thinking workshop @ Jane’s Salon, Bolnuevo, 4pm 

Yoga & Pilates with Wendy @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, 4.45pm 

Bowling League @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 

Menu del Noche @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 9.75€ 

2nd Hand Goods to Buy/Sell with HAH @ Brenda’s Boutique, Los Urrutias,10-1pm 

Andrea’s Animal Rescue, Shop Collection @ Car Park, Camposol B, 11.30-1.30pm 

Hoy (card) Bingo with HELP MMM @ La Zona Bar, Los Alcázares, 2pm, 1€ per game 

Camposol Bridge Club (for beginners/improvers) @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 3.15pm 

Every Tue 

Dance Fitness with Annette @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 10-11am 

Quiz Night @ Restaurant Manchica, La Manchica, optional meal 5€ 

Football Training Session (ages 4-17) @ El Pareton, 6-7pm 

Poker Night @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 

Cocktail Night @ The Spaniard, Hacienda del Álamo, all cocktails 5€ 

Fish & Chips Night @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 

TUESDAY TREATS Menu del Noche only €10! @ Elliots Restaurant/Bar, Bolnuevo 

Menu del Noche @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón, 8€ or 10€ with a bottle of wine 

“B” Clean Weekly Working Party @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B, 9am 

MAMAS Collection/Book Stall @ Camposol B Car Park, 10am-1pm 

Pick/Try/Choose/Buy/Donate with MABS Murcia NE @ Baños de Fortuna,10.30am 

Every Wed 

Biggest Loser Weight Loss Club @ Shape & Tone, Los Alcázares, 9.30am & 11.30am 

Gentle Yoga with Mari Carmen @ Bolnuevo, 10am 

Zumba Fitness with Wendy @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, 5pm 

Mar Menor Golf Society Competition 

3 Course Steak Night @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón, 15€ 

Menu del Noche @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 9.75€ 

Menu del Noche @ The Steak Out, Camposol B 11.95€ 


Karaoke & Disco @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 9pm-late 

Gardening Group Clean Up @ Camposol C, 9am 

Camposol Bridge Club, Duplicate Bridge @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9.30am 

Enjoy your leisure and learn to paint @ Cañadas Del Romero School. 10-12pm 


Age Concern booking events etc @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 10-1pm 

The Art Workshop with MABS MMM @ Café Golf, San Javier, 10-12pm, 2€ 

PALS for booking events etc @ Saralara’s, Pto de Mazarron, 1-3.30pm 

Book & DVD Club with HAH @ La Zona Bar, Los Narejos. 2.30-4.30pm 

Beacon of Light @ The Old School House, Cañadas del Romero, 7-8.30pm 




www.costacalidachronicle.com email: email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com

Every Thu 

Camposol Market @ Camposol A 

Yoga & Pilates with Wendy @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, 9.30am 

Circle of Potential with Sacred Hearts @ Mazarrón Country Club, 11-1pm 

Dance Fitness with Annette @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 11.30-12.30pm 

Steak Night @ Restaurant Manchica, La Manchica, 16.95€ for 2 inc btl wine 

Italian Night @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 

Menu del Noche @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón, 8€ or 10€ with a bottle of wine 

Age Concern booking events etc @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 10-1pm 

Pick/Try/Choose/Buy/Donate with MABS Murcia NE @ Baños de Fortuna,10.30am 

PALS booking events etc @ Tel’s Bar, Camposol B, 11-1.30pm 

Andrea’s Animal Rescue Collection @ Mazarrón Country Club, 11.30-1pm 

Every Fri 

Sit 2B Fit with Annette @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, 10.30-11.30am 

Personal Training/Meditation/Relaxation with Wendy @ The Yoga Room, Totana 

Mark Phoenix Hypnotheraphy @ Dental Care, Camposol B 

Fish & Chip Lunch @ The Spaniard, Hacienda del Álamo, 6€ 

Fish & Chip Special @ Rest Manchica, La Manchica 11€ for 2 (12-3pm & 6.30-10pm) 

Fresh Fish Night, 3 Courses @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón, 10€ 

Fish/Chips 4 x ½ cod 20€/2 large 19€ inc btl wine @ Rest Marina, Pto de Mazarrón 

Steak Night @ The Spaniard, Hacienda del Álamo, 19.95€ for 2 inc btl wine 

Homemade Fish & Chips @ The Steak Out, Camposol B sm 5.50€/lg 7.50€ 

Disco @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 9pm-late 

Live Music @ Kennelly’s, Pueblo Español, Hacienda del Álamo, 9pm 

Karaoke with DJ Eddie B @ The Steak Out, Camposol B 

Camposol Bridge Club, Duplicate Bridge @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9.30am 

Friday Art Group @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 9.45-12.30pm 

Book Sale & Bric-a-Brac. Noah’s ARC @ Camposol B, 10-2pm 


Age Concern booking events @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B, 10-1pm 

Book Stall, Camposol A Gardening Group @ Car Park Camposol A. 10.30-12.30pm 

Lions Bahia Mazarrón booking events @ Outside Kennelly’s, Camposol B, 11am 

GoMad Donations @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B & Costa Calida Radio (Pto), 

12.30-2pm 

Age Concern booking events @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 12.30-3.30pm 

10 pin Bowling, Camposol C Garden Group @ Totana, 4pm 

Every Sat 

All Top Football on Giant Screen @ The Steak Out, Camposol B 

Paella Lunchtime Special @ Rest Marina,Pto de Mazarrón, 7€ inc small beer 

Fish & Chip Special @ Restaurant Manchica, La Manchica,11€ for 2 (12-3pm) 

3 course Saturday Special @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón, 20€ (not 5th Jan) 

Fish/Chips 4 x ½ cod 20€/2 large 19€ inc btl wine @ Rest Marina, Pto de Mazarrón 

Curry Night @ Restaurant Manchica, La Manchica, 4 courses 19.95€ for 2 

Every Sun 

Disco @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 9pm-late 

Dinner & Dance with Bitacora @ Lagarto Verde, Pto de Mazarrón, 10pm 

Book Sale with MABS Murcia MM @ Outside The Arches Bar, 10-1pm 


PALS for booking events @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, from 11-1.30pm 

Car Boot Sale, 8.30am @ Cañadas del Romero Social Centre 

Car Boot Sale, 9-2pm @ Venta Romero, Cuevas de Reyllo 

Sunday Lunch @ The Spaniard, Hacienda del Álamo from 6.95€ 

Paella Lunchtime Special @ Rest Marina,Pto de Mazarrón, 7€ inc small beer 

Sunday Roast @ Restaurant Manchica, La Manchica, from 7.50€ 






Page 85

Sunday Lunch @ The Steak Out, Camposol B 9.95€ 

2 Course Sunday Roast @ Rest Marina, Pto de Mazarrón, 8€ inc. glass wine/small beer 

Sunday Lunch @ Bistro Bulgaria, Polaris World, Condada de Alhama, from 8€ 

Sunday Lunch @ Bistro Bulgaria, Camposol B, from 8€ 

3 Course Sunday Roast (am & pm) @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón, 10€ 

3 Course Sunday Lunch @ Elliot’s Bar and Restaurant, Bolnuevo, 10€ 

HELP MMM Car Boot @ Autocine, Los Narejos 

JANUARY 

Tuesday 1 New Year’s Day Special Menu @ Chez Zoe, Pto de Mazarrón, 38€ 

Sponsored Swim with PALS @ Bahia Beach, Pto de Mazarrón 

Wednesday 2 

Thursday 3 

Friday 4 

Exhibition by Isabel Guillermo “Mira a los Ojos” @ Mazarrón Town Hall (2-7th) 

Exhibition by Tomás Raja “Despues del Aguacero” @ 

Mazarrón Universidad de Popular, (2nd-7th) 

Market Morning @ Jane’s Salon, Bolnuevo 

Outdoor Market Stall with MABS Murcia NW @ Calle Segura, Calasparra, 9-1pm 

Cálida Country Music Club (CAFE) @ La Molata, Cañadas de Alhama, 8pm 

Walk with NEST/optional meal, Meet El Berro Car Park, Sierra Espuña, 10.30am, 5€ 

Saturday 5 Three Kings Night Special @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón 20€ 

ADAPT Meeting @ Pensionista de Hogar, San Pedro, 10.30am 

Welcome Meeting @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, 2pm 

Sunday 6 Three Kings lunch/evening meal @ Don Ricardo’s, Pto de Mazarrón 10€ 

‘Los Reyes Magos’ with Welcome House @ Cehegin. 11am 

Mazarrón FC away game against CAP Ciudad de Murcia 

Monday 7 

Romería del 7 de Enero, Totana 

PALS Monthly Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol, 11.15am 

Tuesday 8 

Wednesday 9 

Table Top Sale with HAH @ La Zona Bar, Los Alcácares, 10-2pm 

Charity Market with Help MMM @ La Zona Bar, Los Alcazáres, 11.30am 

Volunteer Meeting with HAH @ Bacchus Restaurant, The Oasis, Los Narejos, 11.30am 

Book/Jigsaw Swap with Welcome @ ICI Medical Centre, Camposol B 10am-12pm 

Volunteer Meeting with MABS MMM @ Las Claras, Los Narejos, 11am 

Fortuna Ladies’ Lunch Club with MABS NE @ Las Palmeras, Baños de Fortuna, 1pm 

Talking Shop with Age Concern @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 1.30-3.30pm 

Volunteer Meeting with MABS Murcia NW @ Hotel Argos, 5pm 

Games Night with Welcome @ Mariano’s, Camposol A 3€ 


Thursday 10 

Friday 11 

Sunday 13 

Monday 14 

Shopping Trip to Nuevo Condomina & Thader with Viajes Dragontours 

Chatterbox Ladies’ Group Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 2pm 

Indoor Market with fashion/bling/DVD’s etc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 

Book Sale with MABS Mazarrón @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9-1pm 

Artisan Market @ Mula 

Mazarrón FC home game against CF Molina 

Meeting for 2013 Bowling League @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 8.30pm 

Page 86 





Chatterbox Ladies’ ‘Sew and Sew’ @ Camposol Cultural Centre 2.30-4.30pm 

Tuesday 15 

Nioxin Salon Demonstration/Hair Loss Clinic Evening @ Jane’s Salon, Bolnuevo 

General Meeting with Help MMM @ Las Claras, Los Narejos, 11.30am 

Ebony/Ivory Ladies’ Lunch Club/MABS MMM @ 

Diamante’s Restaurant, El Mojon, 1.30pm 10€ 

Wednesday 16 “Chatters” with HAH @ Bacchus Restaurant, Oasis, Los Narejos, 11.30am 

Thursday 17 

San Antón, Bullas & Torre Pacheco 

Nutcracker Ice Dance @ Murcia Auditorium (17-20 th ) 

Friday 18 

Photography Outing with NEST to Cartagena 

Book Sale with MABS Mazarron @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9-1pm 

Outdoor Market Stall with MABS Murcia NW @ Calle Segura, Calasparra, 9-1pm 

Share & Care Group with MABS MMM @ MABS Cancer Centre, San Javier, 11am 

Cálida Country Music Club Night (CAFE) @ La Molata, Cañadas de Alhama, 8pm 

Saturday 19 

Sunday 20 

Walk in Aguilas area with the Evolutionists of Almeria and Murcia 

San Sebastián, Ricote 

Artisan Market @ Caravaca 

Car Boot Sale @ Old Railway Station in Cehegin 2€ per stall 

Mazarrón FC away game against Beniajan CF 

Monday 21 

Tuesday 22 

Burns’ Night celebration with Welcome House, Cehegin 

Book/Jigsaw Swap with Welcome @ ICI Medical Centre, Camposol B 10am-12pm 

Wednesday 23 Welcome Dance @ Mariano’s, Camposol A 8€ (5€ for pork & chips) 

Friday 25 

Burns’ Night 

Indoor Market with fashion/bling/DVD’s etc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 

Table Top Sale with GOmaD @ Camposol B, 10–2pm 

Book Sale with MABS Murcia NW @ Trevol Bar, Calasparra, 11-2pm 

”Jigsaw” Bereavement Group with MABS Mazarrón @ Cat’s Bar, Camposol A, 2pm 

Burn’s Night/ Steve Warner with PALS @ Hotel Playa Grande, Pto de Mazarrón, 25€ 

Country and Western night with Lions @ Mariano’s Restaurant, Camposol A 

Saturday 26 

Dinner/Danc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B. 7.30pm 

Nature Walk, Cehegín 

“Dick Whittington” by Cloud Nine Drama @ La Molata Social Centre, Nr Camposol 

Sunday 27 

Monday 28 

Tuesday 29 

Artisan Market @ Plaza del Castillo, Cehegin, 10am 

“Dick Whittington” by Cloud Nine Drama @ La Molata Social Centre, Nr Camposol 

Mazarrón FC away game against Jumilla CD 

Sevillanas Social Meeting @ Asturias Restaurant 

Fiesta de las Cuadrillas - Barranda, Caravaca de la Cruz 

Monthly “B” Clean Meeting @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 4pm 

Wednesday 30 Walk with NEST/Optional Meal, Meet La Santa Monastery Car Park, 10.30am, 5€ 

Volunteers Meeting with MABS NE @ La Carcelera, Urb Las Kalendas, Fortuna, 11.30am 






Page 87 Page 87

Petanca with Welcome @ Mariano’s Restaurant, Camposol A, 1pm 

Menu del Dia with Age Concern @ Los Galayos, Pto de Mazarrón, 10€ 

Thursday 31 

Nioxin Salon Demonstration/Hair Loss Clinic Evening @ Jane’s Salon, Bolnuevo 

Volunteers Meeting with MABS NE @ Las Palmeras, Baños de Fortuna, 10am 

FEBRUARY 

Friday 1 

Saturday 2 

“Play On” with Los Canovas Players @ Salon Theatre in Los Canovas 8pm 

La Candelaria, Beniel 

“Dick Whittington” by Cloud Nine Drama @ El Auditorio, Casa de Cultura, Bullas 


ADAPT Meeting @ the Pensionistas de Hogar in San Pedro, 10.30am 

Sunday 3 

Monday 4 

Tuesday 5 

Thursday 7 

Mazarrón FC home game against Corvera CF 


“D” Sector Community Group Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 4pm 

Volunteer Meeting with HAH @ Bacchus Restaurant, The Oasis, Los Narejos, 11.30am 

Grand Auction with Age Concern @ Mariano’s, Camposol A, from 11am 

Friday 8 Party Night with The Beagles for Noah’s ARC @ Camposol Golf Club, C. 5€ 

Photos copyright: www.imperialicestars. 

com 

The Regional Auditorium in Murcia will 

become an ice rink to host the “spectacular” 

production of ‘The Nutcracker’ by the 

English company The Imperial Ice Stars, 

composed of 26 skaters winners of global, 

European and national competitions with 

more than 250 medals. 

the classic Russian tale of Marie and her 

beloved snowman, Nutcracker, the King 

of the mice, the enchanted Prince and the 

Sugar Plum Fairy. 


This is a new and dazzling” production, 

which premiered in South Africa in 2011, 

with a performance of Tchaikovsky, in the 

form of skating, jumping at great speed, 

with a number of circus and incredible 

acrobatic feats. 

This will be held in the Auditorio y Centro 

de Congresos Víctor Villegas, Murcia, 

from 17 to 20 January 2013. The show 

is divided into two parts and is based on 

The sets have been designed by Eamon 

D’Arcy, the designer of the opening 

ceremony at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 

and the 120 plus costumes have been 

designed by Elema Predvodeteleva. 

Tickets are priced from 20€ to 45€ and 

are available from the box office at the 

Auditorium in Murcia, Carrefour, Falcon 

Travel and via Ticketmaster. 

Tel 968 34 30 80 

Page 88 





Come to the Aguilas Carnaval with Viajes 

Dragontours. 

The Aguilas Carnaval is famous for its parades 

and, increasingly, the “Night Carnival” in 

which most of the population dresses in costume 

and comes out to enjoy the Aguilas evening. 

These parades, which include the participation 

of 4,000 people, floats, groups, and 

musical bands, take place in an atmosphere 

of revelry which affects the crowd and makes 

it part of the Carnaval. This Carnaval is probably 

the most famous and most popular in the 

whole of the Costa Cálida and if you have not 

experienced a true Spanish Carnaval, maybe 

now is the time! 

On Sunday 10th February 2013 Viajes 

Dragontours are putting on coaches priced at 

26€ per person, which includes return coach 

from Puerto de Mazarron, Bolnuevo, Country 

Club & Camposol to Aguilas and a seat at the 

famous parade. 

Book now on 968 199 021 or go to info@ 

dragontours.net 

Sit 2B Fit classes have been running since 

April 2012 and targeted those who wanted 

to exercise but experienced reduced mobility. 

The people who came forward initially faced 

a range of challenges from the after effects 

of a stroke to osteoarthritis, and hip, back 

and knee problems. The exercise programme 

they embarked on involved a whole range of 

dance steps, stretches and specific moves, all 

performed seated in a chair using motivating 

music. 

Annette is so pleased with the progress that 

individuals have made in flexibility, increased 

stamina and range of movement and she 

would like to share one of their testimonials in 

the hope of encouraging others to participate. 

When you join this friendly group Annette asks 

for all medical history so that she is aware 

of any physical challenges you may have. 

Annette is a sympathetic, qualified teacher 

with many years experience. 

The classes take place every Friday at Mariano’s 

Restaurant, Camposol A from 10.30-11.30am. 

You can contact Annette on 649 647 467 for 

more details and to secure a place. 

We have no hesitation in recommending the Sit 

2B Fit sessions to anyone. We joined because 

I was looking for something that might help 

my wife who is recovering from a stroke which 

has left her with difficulties down her left side. 

Her improvement has been marked. I joined in 

when I saw how much everyone was enjoying 

themselves. The result is I feel much fitter 

now and we have many new friends. Many 

thanks and keep up the good work. 

Bob D 





Page 89

We would 

like to give 

our sincere 

thanks to Los 

Amigos Golf 

Mazarrón for 

their support 

of the Soccer 

School in 

the region 

of Camposol 

and their sponsorship of our new Soccer 

School strip. 

The Soccer School has been running now 

for two years and we continually look for 

children of all levels and nationalities to come 

along and take part. Coach Ronnie is a top 

level Youth Licence coach, trained to SFA 

high standards and has a fantastic rapport 

with kids of all ages. Coach Jelco is a UEFA 

A Licence holder and is able to share his 

professional match experience with the kids. 

Both coaches not only encourage the kids to 

improve their football skills, but also their 

social skills in a fun and friendly environment. 

We have a regular Tuesday evening training 

session held at El Pareton between 6pm and 

7pm to which all children from ages 4 to 17 

are welcome. We run special programmes 

during school holidays which not only include 

our normal coaching sessions, but also have 

fun games and outings such as swimming, 

bowling and even beach training sessions. 

Parents are also welcome to attend 

and are encouraged to take part in our 

popular Parents v Kids football matches. 

Always one to take the camera to! 

This sponsorship will enable the Soccer 

School to continue to provide a high level of 

coaching to all kids in the area and will allow us 

to take part in local games with other teams. 

Thanks once again from the coaches and 

kids of the Soccer School to Los Amigos 

Golf Mazarrón for their support. We hope to 

continue to grow with the help and support of 

the local community. 


Lo Romero Golf Members Christmas 

Tournament 

On 9th of December Lo Romero Golf held 

its Members Christmas Tournament, the final 

members’ tournament of the year. 

The format for the days play was Individual 

Stableford, with the first group starting at 

8am under blue, but somewhat chilly skies. 

In total 25 members, all competing in the 

same category, took part in what turned out 

to be a wonderful way to end the competitive 

season at Lo Romero Golf. As soon as 

the cards were in, a few words from club 

professional Alex Ward and Director of Golf 

Jaime Ibañez Peñalver. The winners were 

announced. 

1 st Jari Karviola 38 points 

2 nd Bjorn Olsen 37 points 

3 rd Paul Wightman 36 points 

4 th Marjut Falck 36 points 

All the winners received a Christmas Hamper 

filled with traditional Christmas goodies. 

To finish the prize presentation, the raffle 

was drawn, with the lucky members enjoying 

prizes donated from local companies. Lo 

Romero Golf would like to thank the 

following sponsors for the tournament and 

their kind donations: 

Meson Los Caracoles,Pilar de la Horadada; 

Ultrasonic Clubclean, Villamartin; Amigos Bar, 

San Pedro de Pinatar; Morgan’s Bar, Eagle’s 

Nest; Fit 4 All, Torrevieja; Emil Fruits, Murcia, 

Levante and Lebeche; The Pasty Shack, Pinar 

de Campoverde; Diamantes Restaurant, El 

Mojon; Thalasia Spa, San Pedro del Pinatar 

and Iceland, San Javier. 

The day was completed with a small buffet 

for the members on the terrace of Bar Lo 

Romero, overlooking the splendid course 

which was presented in pristine condition. 

Lo Romero Golf would like to take this 

opportunity to wish everyone a very a 

Prosperous and Happy New Year. 

We hope to see you all in the New Year. 

Alex Ward, Professional 

Lo Romero Golf Academy, 

elitepro13@hotmail.com 

Page 90 





Spanish Regional Semi-final & Finals at 

La Manga Resort 

Once again we have come to the final games 

of cricket at the end of a long season in Spain. 

The teams that took part at the La Manga 

Resort were the top two of the northern region 

against the top two of the southern region 

playing off to find the National Champion 

of Spain in a two day event. 

1 st Semi-final 24 th November 

La Manga Cricket Club, champions of the 

southern region took on Cataluyna Cricket 

Club from the northern region, in the first 

semi-finals, when the home team elected 

to bat first on a very wet outfield due to the 

heavy overnight dew. Unfortunately due to 

maintenance/reseeding, the ground staff was 

unable to “sweep” the ground to break up the 

dew, making it difficult for batters and fielders 

until later when the sun had helped to clear 

the dew. 

that with a wet track they could knock a few 

quick wickets before the sun dried the pitch, 

but they were wrong, as the two openers 

Pennick and Ali put on 116 for the first wicket 

before S Ali was caught and bowled by Dilsher 

for 47, in came Nadeem who went quickly for 

9. Gary Crompton got a fast 31 before being 

run out, followed by another 4 wickets going 

down very quickly, but the batting of A Brown 

26 kept their hopes up and the score at the 

final over was Alfas CC 212 for 8 in 43 overs. 

The best bowler for Minhaj CC was Nadeem 

Ullah; 3 for 30 off 7 overs. 

In reply, Minhaj didn’t have a good start 

when Pennick took the wicket of Ahmed for 

1 and then the next wicket went down at 44 

and Khalid for 32. Only Nadeem and Lamir 

with 47 gave any resistant to the bowling of 

Paul Taylor; 4 for 25 off 9 overs and Crompton 

3 for 18 off 9 overs, his best bowling figures 

in years - no doubt he will put this in his scrap 

book! Minhaj batting was no match for the 

Alfas bowlers and they were all out for 152 

off 39 overs, which took Alfas to the finals on 

the Sunday. 

Alfas CC 212 for 8/Minhaj CC 152 All out 

two spinners, Paul Taylor and Gary Crompton 

into the attack. With the first over from Gary 

Crompton turning balls sideways, he had his 

first wicket caught by Pennick. 3 overs later 

Paul Taylor struck the 3rd blow to Catalan, 

with Captain Nizar, who had taken 16 off 4 

balls, being stumped whilst charging down 

the wicket to Taylor, thinking he could finish 

the game off single handed. He wrong, as he 

was back in the pavilion!! Taylor then went 

to bowl the next batsman for a duck and in 

his next ball he got his hat trick; but he didn’t 

stop there! His fourth wicket came with the 

very next ball. By this time Catalan batting 

was in disarray and when Taylor took two 

more wickets and Crompton taking two more 

to finish the match, Catalan were well beaten 

by two Alfas bowlers who take the title as 

Champions of Spain. 

Paul Taylor as the MOM with 7.1-4-19-7. Gary 

Crompton 6-1-26-2. 

Congratulations to Alfas Cricket Club, 

Champions of Spain 2012. 

La Manga were fielding an under strength 

side having their top 4 all-rounders missing 

from the game due to a wedding in Pakistan, 

but the replacement players took up the 

challenge to play at this level.The team got 

off to bad start having Neil Brook caught in 

the 3rd over of the day for nought, and David 

Williams our other opener soon followed when 

the score was 31. The top scorers Nassir 

Runjh and Attif Ali put on 51, but the rest 

of the team fell apart with some lazy batting 

and they were bowled out for 99 in 30 of the 

allocated 40 overs. Two Catalunya bowlers 

bowled well to get 5 wickets between them 

with F Iqbal 3 for 25 off 6 overs and R Ali 2 

for 16 off 6 overs. 

Catalunya got off to a bad start when K Bhutt 

hit the first ball for 4 and then got bowled the 

very next ball by A Ali. The next pair put on 

43 and again A Ali removed S Khan who was 

bowled for 32. A Runjh was brought into the 

attack bowling leg spin in the 5 th over of the 

day and finished with 3 wickets. La Manga 

bowlers kept the pressure on, but defending 

such a modest total proved to be too big a 

task. Catalunya CC went on to win with 5 

wickets down and knocking off the runs in 18 

overs to give Catalunya CC the final spot for 

the Sunday Game. 

La Manga CC 99 all out/Cataluyna CC 103 

for 5 

2 nd Semi-final 24 th November 

This took place on the 2 nd pitch at La Manga 

Resort under the same conditions, when 

Minhaj CC from the northern region took on 

Alfas CC from the south. Minhaj won the 

toss and put Alfas CC in to bat first thinking 

Finals Day 25 th November 

The spectators at La Manga Resort took their 

seats for an exciting game with Alfas Cricket 

Club v Catalunya Cricket Club, to see who 

could win the battle of the giants of Spain. 

Catalunya CC won the toss and elected to 

take the field, on again, a wet outfield with 

the heavy overnight dew. 

The openers from Alfas CC, Pennick and Ali, 

put on a slow but good partnership of 55 

for the first wicket when Ali was out for 31. 

Crompton, put on a slow 15 run partnership, 

and went. 15 runs later Nadeen went, adding 

another 16 runs, and then Pennick went for 

30 which started a slow slippery path with 

wickets going down steadily and Alfas being 

bowled out for 123. The best bowler was Raz 

Ali, who took 5 for 19 off 7 overs, and at this 

stage Catalan thought they had clinched 

the final from Alfas and were going home 

with the Cup, but little did they know of Paul 

Taylor, 70 years young, and did he surprise 

them all!!! 

Catalan went into bat, with the confidence 

that they had done all the hard work by 

bowling out Alfas and were chasing a modest 

target, no-one could write the script that 

followed!! 

The first pair put on 35 in 5 overs when the 

first wicket went to a run out. With Pennick 

and Roper bowling, going for 35 in the first 

five overs, skipper Ben Fletcher brought his 

Finally may I thank La Manga Cricket Club, 

the CE and officials for their help in organizing 

the two day event. Without them there would 

be no cricket played at these tournaments. A 

great lunched was served at the ground for all 

the players and guests, courtesy of the ECCL 

and the Cricket España. 

Cricket at La Manga Resort, please contact 

George Wambeekon 0034 610 006 783 






Page 91 Page 91

RC Sailing Mar Menor 

Summer has gone and you may be looking 

for a new hobby to fill in that time you have 

on your hands over the winter. Why not try 

sailing with Radio Controlled Sailing? This 

is a great pastime whether you are a beginner 

or a seasoned sailor and is worth giving it a 

try. 

The new Radio Control Model Group based in 

Los Alcázares is now one year old, and runs 

under the name of RC Mar Menor Sailing 

Group. The group has progressed well over 

its first 12 months and is one of a number 

of SAMM (Sailing Association Mar Menor) 

groups and members can enjoy the full range 

of benefits that SAMM has to offer, including 

an active social scene and the opportunity to 

join in and sail a number of different full size 

boats. 

We are based at the Sports College of 

Infanta Cristina on the Mar Menor and we 

enjoy the use of the college’s excellent sailing 

facilities. Our racing series has now started 

and our members are getting used to tuning 

their boats to get the best out of them, with 

some just learning to sail for the very first 

time. 

We have started with some friendly Handicap 

Racing to define the different capabilities of 

each boat and judge the popularity of the 

different classes of boats, so we can run 

class racing alongside handicap racing. With 

all new clubs, it is a matter of waiting to see 

what boats people want to buy and I believe 

that variety is the spice of life. In the short 

term it looks like the International One Metre 

will form the first boat class for racing with 4 

already on the water and more being built. 

The IOM as it is known has world wide support 

and has been in production for more than 30 

years with national competitions in Europe, 

USA, New Zealand and Australia, and world 

championships run every year. Three years 

ago the Spanish National Championships 

where held at the college over a 3 day period 

with some 14 boats taking part. 

We have already attracted a wide range 

of boat types and owners with an equally 

wide range of diverse skills. Their skills are 

always available to members and they are 

willing to assist if need be. The group caters 

for all tastes whether you are a seasoned 

model boat builder or you prefer your boat 

straight out of a box. The range of boats we 

have attracted so far to our Friday morning 

get together is very varied from the compact 

Victoria at 750mm long, up to the mighty 

5 foot long American East Coast 12 metre, 

including a Thunder Tiger, four International 

One Metres, and a Austrian Smaragd. Last 

year we acquired one of the new American 

Vela one metre boats, which was shipped in 

from the States for valuation and trials. It 

comes fully built and includes a 2.4 digital RC 

control system, and we now have two. We 

also have two Lasers which are copies of the 

world famous Laser single handed 2.7 class 

dinghy. In the UK, sailors of the full size Laser 

regularly race the RC version in winter to 

sharpen their skills (if they can break the ice 

on the local pond)! Sorry I could not resist 

that one! 

We also would like to bridge the divide and 

become more multinational, so if we can 

tempt you to come and take a look, for more 

information please check out our website 

www.rcmarmenorsailinggroup.eu or 

phone David Lees on 968 170 870 or email 

davidlees66@hotmail.com We hope to see 

you on the water soon. 


Well what can I say? Desert Springs Golf 

Club has to be the best so far. It was in 

fantastic order and the surroundings were 

also fantastic. We all met up for coffee and 

bacon butties at the Trevi Bar, then off to 

the course. The man in charge of getting us 

there was Charlie, who had played the course 

two weeks previously, assuring us he knew 

the way, but as is the norm with our society, 

no trip would be complete without a detour 

and sure enough, after ending up off road, 

we finally got there, so Charlie is now known 

as Thomas Cook, along with Freddie being 

known as Christopher Columbus. We are 

getting quite a collection; just hope I don’t 

run out of explorer’s names to use. 

Well the 

course was 

fabulous and 

for 30€ it was 

a bargain. 

We all played 

well and the 

scores were 

close, but 

finally the 

cream rose 

to the top 

and Nigel 

Bowditch, 

J o h n 

Hutchinson 

and Paul 

Francs came 

out winners. Picking up the ‘how to improve 

your golf’ prize was Vic, who by all accounts 

could really use it. Only joking Vic! I know 

you loved every minute of your day. 

Back to Trevi’s for the presentation where 

once again a great spread was put on by all 

at the Trevi Bar, so a big thank you to them 

for that. 

This will be my last report for a while as I have 

to go back to the uk for personal reasons, but 

I will hand over the job to another member of 

the society and look forward to getting back 

to play with all the lads again. A big thank 

you to you all and see you all soon. 

Just pop into the Trevi Bar to find out the 

next day for golf and it’s free to join. 

Trevi Bar 669 026 544 

Chairman Steve Dixon 634 127 221 

Page 92 





The Proper Warm-Up Routine by David 

Gay PGA Professional 

How often do you arrive at the golf course 

forty-five minutes prior to your tee-time? 

Chances are, not as often as you should. One 

key to a good round of golf is being properly 

prepared and loosened up before the game. 

Arriving at the course forty-five minutes in 

advance will give you plenty of opportunity to 

hit some full shots as well as do some chipping 

and putting. 

Driving 

Range 

You do not 

have to hit a 

large bucket 

of balls, instead, 

hit one 

euro’s worth 

(twenty or thirty balls) and loosen up slowly. 

Start out with a short iron and progress up to 

the longer clubs. Try to get a “feel” for your 

swing, but do not start working on your swing 

and making changes. Remember this is just a 

warm up and not a practice session. 

Chipping 

Save a few balls from your warm-up basket 

and head to the chipping green. Try both the 

bump and run shot, as well as some more 

lofted shots to get a sense of feel. The goal is 

to get each shot about two feet from the cup. 

By hitting some good chips you will have more 

confidence to take to the course. Also, if the 

course has a practice bunker, hit a few shots 

from there. Remember, about half the shots 

taken in a round occur around the green. 

Putting 

When you hit the putting green before your 

round, you are there to get a feel for the 

speed of the greens, not work on your stroke. 

Practice some longer putts (around thirty 

feet) and try to lag them close. Next, sink 

some short putts to build some confidence 

before you tee off. 

Although time is precious in our busy lives, 

the small amount of time it takes to warm 

up properly before a round of golf will be well 

worthwhile. You will now feel ready to play 

on the first tee rather than the fifth tee and 

your chances of getting off to a good start are 

greatly increased. 

For more information on lessons and club 

repairs you can now find David at Peraleja 

Golf Resort, Sucina or contact him on 670 

083 939. Lessons are available from 20€ for 

30 minutes for one person to five lessons for 

one hour for four people for 200€. 

Email davidgaypga@mac.com 


The Seventh Race Day of the SAMM 

Autumn Series 2012 

This was held on Sunday November 18 th . The 

race took place from the CAR Sailing Centre 

at Los Narejos on the Mar Menor. The north 

easterly wind was at 3-4 knots. After the start 

of the race it began to rain, becoming heavier 

and heavier, until eventually it was torrential. 

Everyone was soaked, but they battled on 

and the results on corrected times were, as 

follows: 

First race: 

1 st Sailfish Mistral 

Robert Hudson Don Clarke 

2 nd Sailfish Sorocco 

Terry Chapman Janice Penning 

3 rd Catamaran Hamoor 

John Clarke D Squires, R Hext, B Blinkhorn 

The Final Race of the Autumn Series 2012 

This was held on Sunday November 25 th . 

The race took place from the CAR Sailing 

Centre at Los Narejos on the Mar Menor. 

With difficult conditions and little or no wind, 

some competitors were reluctant to sign on, 

wondering if there would be any racing. With 

a late start, three dinghies and the two sailfish 

boats attempted to make the start line. 

Only the Sailfish Sorocco cleared the start 

line, helmed by 

Robert Hudson 

and crewed by 

Oscar Laird. The 

other helmed by 

Terry Chapman 

and crewed by 

Val Preston had 

to cope with 

gear failure and 

registered a ‘did 

not start’. 

Bob Blinkhorn 

sailing single 

handed in the 

Shoestring 

Mirror had some 

assistance to get to the start line (within the 

five minute rule) and at the signal, some 

increase in wind speed allowed the dinghies to 

take advantage and chase the sailfish. 

There was some close racing between 

the Shoestring Cuatro, helmed by John 

Down and crewed by Tony Blakeley, and 

the Shoestring Tres, sailed single handed 

by Vernon O’Byrne. Vernon couldn’t put 

enough distance between himself and John. 

Eventually Shoestring Cuatro took the 

lead and came 1 st . With the corrected times 

Shoestring Tres came in 4 th . Bob Blinkhorn 

managed 3 rd place in Shoestring Mirror and 

the Sailfish Sorocco came home 2 nd . 

A disappointing season due to inclement 

weather, sometimes too much wind, lots of 

rain and the last race day there was very little 

wind resulting in just the one race. 

SAMM is looking forward to resuming the 

racing in the spring time and for more 

information for anyone wishing to join them 

see www.sailingmarmenor.com or email 

sammracing@yahoo.co.uk. 








Mazarrón FC continued to show improvement 

in both performances and results, remaining 

unbeaten during the month of November with 

three wins and a draw from the four games 

played. The run came to an end with a 2-3 

home defeat at the beginning of December 

against Olimpico de Totana in a game which 

Mazarrón should have at least drawn. 

However, the following week saw the best 

result and performance by a Mazarrón team 

for some time when they travelled to runaway 

league leaders Yeclano Deportivo and came 

away with a 1-1 draw. Yeclano had won 11 

and drawn 1 of their first 12 games, but 

Mazarrón could and should have won the 

game. Jose Ruben, who scored Mazarrón’s 

goal in the second minute had two other 

great chances and also missed a penalty five 

minutes before half time. 

Mazarrón’s home games are normally 

played on Sundays with varying kick-off 

times. Admission is just 4€ with juveniles 

free. Los Amigos de Mazarrón FC organise 

a supporters’ coach (7€) to most away games 

leaving from the car park opposite Consum, 

Camposol. 

Full details of all games, both home and away, 

are announced on the Tuesday before the 

weekend on which the game is to be played 

and advertised in the local media, on our 

website www.losamigosdemazarron.es 

and on posters at various points throughout 

Camposol and Mazarron. 

Forthcoming fixtures: 

Sunday 6 th January 

CAP Ciudad de Murcia 


CF MOLINA 


Beniajan CF 


Jumilla CD 

Sunday 3 rd February 

CORVERA CF 

Sunday 10 th February 

Atletico Pulpileno 

(Away) 

(HOME) 

(Away) 

(Away) 

(HOME) 

(Away) 

All VIP tickets for the 4 th Annual Gala Evening 

and Dinner have now been sold but there 

are still a few tickets available at 40€ which 

includes a five course meal/coffee/beer/ 

house wine and soft drinks during dinner. 

This fabulous event, again sponsored by New 

Images and Ibex Insurance will be held on 

Tuesday 12 th March at the Hotel la Cumbre, 

Puerto de Mazarrón with former Manchester 

City and Wolves midfielder Steve Daley as the 

guest speaker. Comedian Pat Martin and the 

musical sounds of the Beagles complete the 

entertainment for the evening and there will 

be the usual auction of sporting memorabilia. 

Items for the auction this year include 

autographed shirts from Stoke City, Queens 

Park Rangers and West Ham United; a framed 

photograph of Wayne Rooney’s famous goal 

from an overhead kick for Manchester United 

against Manchester City in 2011 personally 

signed by the England international; two 

tickets for a Premier League game at West 

Ham and a framed autographed picture of 

West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers. 

To reserve your tickets, please ring Andy on 

634 040 990, Dave on 626 465 847, or 

email losamigosdemazarronfc@hotmail. 

co.uk or call at Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 

Thursdays 3-4pm prior to Los Amigos de 

Mazarrón FC weekly meetings. 

Monday 11 th March 2013, we have organised 

a Celebrity Golf Day at the Sensol Golf Club 

with a tournament in which Steve Daley and 

Tony Currie, the former Sheffield United, 

Leeds and England international, will play. 

There are two packages available for golfers 

who wish to take part: 

6 places are available to play alongside 

either Steve Daley or Tony Currie; 3 

will play in Steve’s foursome and 3 with 

Tony. Photographs will be taken with both 

celebrities. After the golf, lunch is included in 

the Golf Club bar with Steve and Tony. The 

cost to play 18 holes with either Steve or Tony 

including lunch is 50€. Buggies are available 

at an additional discounted cost of 10€. 

The remainder of the golfers will play in the 

same competition and the cost for the 18 holes 

will be 32.50€ (normal price is 40€). Again, 

buggies are available (pre-booking essential) 

if required at an additional cost of 10€ and 

lunch is available at normal golf club prices. 

If you would like to join us for this celebrity 

golf day please ring Andy on 634 040 990 or 

send an email to losamigosdemazarronfc@ 

hotmail.co.uk. 

The new VIP Lounge at the Estadio Municipal 

is proving extremely popular on match days. 

The lounge is available to sponsors and other 

guests before, during and after the game and 

the match sponsors enjoy a superb buffet 

prior to the game, complimentary tea and 

coffee and the use of the “Honesty Bar”. The 

Man of the Match is invited into the lounge 

after the game along with other Mazarrón 

FC Players. Members of the Los Amigos 

de Mazarrón FC supporters club are also 

welcome in the VIP lounge after the game for 

a drink and a chance to meet some of the 

players. 

Various sponsorship opportunties are now 

available to local businesses and individuals 

at very affordable prices which range from 

just €30 for a match ball sponsorship to €100 

for a ground advertising board which includes 

artwork and installation. For full details or 

to receive a sposnorship leaflet, which is 

avaialble in both English and Spanish, please 

contact Martin Vale on 634 342 294 or email 

losamigosdemazarronfc@hotmail.co.uk 

If you are interested in football, or just wish 

to enjoy an active social life, please join us 

at the weekly Los Amigos de Mazarrón FC 

meetings each Thursday at 4pm in Trevi Bar, 

Camposol B. Membership of Los Amigos de 

Mazarrón FC costs just 10€ per year and we 

organise coaches to away games and have 

social events and other activities throughout 

the year. 

Page 94 









Page 95

FOR SALE 

GROUPS 

2.4kw Petrol Generator plus 12mtr cable 

Excellent condition. 100€ 

Tel 968 956 127 Mazarrón Country Club 

35mm vintage slide projector with extras. 

45€ Tel 968 425 385 Totana 


PS2 playstation with 2 controls,little use 30€ 

Tel 968 425 385. Totana 

Pair Eltax Monitor 111 Shelf Speakers. 150W 

45€ Tel 968 425 385. Totana 

WANTED 

I’m looking for someone to play/learn magic 

card tricks with. I’m a retired n/s male. 

Camposol area. 

David 618 423 025 

Fashion show models, businesses and 

helpers wanted for Feb 

Please call Jane for details on 611 611 858 

Chainsaw wanted with 35/40cm blade, 

electric or petrol considered. Must be in good 

condition. 

Tel 625 797 461 

CLASSIFIED ADS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FOR 

ITEMS UNDER 500€ OR FOR WANTED/LOST 

ITEMS. (FOR NON-COMMERCIAL ENTER- 

PRISES ONLY AND EXCLUDING PROPER- 

TIES, VEHICLES AND BOATS) Maximum 

20 words and 3 classified ads per customer. 

To Place a Classified Advert: 

Please go to our Contact Us page at www. 

costacalidachronicle.com and put Classified 

advert in the Subject line, email costacalidachronicle@gmail.com 

or call 968 

970 680 10-2pm Mon-Fri 

Page 96 





Firstly, I’d like to wish everyone a Happy 

New Year and let’s hope there aren’t 

too many sore heads around. We are 

spending New Year’s Eve in Benidorm so 

that will be great. 

There is never much to say about the 

housing market at this time of year as 

so many people are on holiday or out 

celebrating. 

Spanish property prices have fallen just 

over 33% since the start of the property 

crash and 12% of that was last year, but 

hopefully things will take a turn for the 

better in 2013. There are still plenty of 

people out there looking, but of course 

they all want a bargain. It’s early days 

to understand the impact of SAREB, the 

company that is taking the countries 

“bad debt” in relation to properties, so 

we will just have to wait to see what the 

future holds. 

December saw the lawyers all flat out 

arranging completions of key ready 

properties before the IVA increase from 

1st January 2013, so will we see a drop 

in the key ready sales? 

Jennie Iredale 

Best of Spanish 

info@bestofspanish.com 

(0034) 635 434 651 






Page 97 Page 97

Albacete 

Alicante 

6. Caravaca De 

La Cruz 

La Paca 

Vélez Rubio 

A-91 

Moratalla 

3. Calasparra 

El Berro 

Cieza 

Archena 

7. Cehegin 

RM-15 

Molina de 

Segura 

16. Mula 

17. Pliego 

Alcantarilla 

C-3315 

1. Alhama 

de Murcia 

Aledo 

RM-2 

21. Totana 

RM-3 

A-7 

RM-23 

23. Los Cantereros 

5. Cañadas del 

Lorca Romero RM-3 

4. Camposol 

22. Purias 

AP-7 

27. Blanca 

A-7 

Las Palas 

14. Mazarrón 

2. Bolnuevo 18. Puerto de 

Mazarrón 

26. Fortuna 

9. Fuente 

Alamo 

Murcia 

20. Tallante 

Cartagena 

Orihuela 

RM-1 

Catral 

N-332 

Torrevieja 

RM-19 

Pilar De La Horadada 

11. La Torre 28. San Pedro del Pinatar 

29. Torre 19. San Javier 

Pacheco 

12. Los Alcazares 

A-30 AP-7 

8. El Algar 10. La Manga 

13. Los Belones 

24. Cabo de Palos 

25. La Manga Club 

Vera 

31. Águilas 

All our advertisers have current copies of Costa Cálida Chronicle, 

and other outlets are planned. 

If you have any problems obtaining a copy, please call Patti on 646 005 017. 


If you would like to buy a subscription for the Costa Cálida Chronicle 

to guarantee your monthly copy of the magazine, please fill in 

the form below and hand it in to the Costa Cálida Chronicle office 

on Camposol, or send it to Costa Cálida Chronicle SL, 35 Calle 

Jara, Centro Commercial Sector B, Camposol, 30875, Murcia, or go 

to the website www.costacalidachronicle.com 

Name: ............................................................ 

Address: ............................................................ 

............................................................ 

............................................................ 

Email: ............................................................ 

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Price for 6 months to UK: €36 

Price for 6 months in Spain: €18 

Other countries: 

POA 

Reserved copies (per month) €1 

In Costa Cálida Office, Camposol 

Method of Payment 

Paypal (€3 extra) - costacalidachronicle@yahoo.es 

Bank Transfer: 3058 0206 91 2720017764 

Page 98 









Page 99


Accountants: 

Silvente 968 332 058 

Airport Parking: 

Coastline Auto (Alicante) 966 799 326 

Seguro Parking 622 062 115 

Banking & Finance: 

Debt Relief Solutions 646 705 403 

Lloyds Bank International 902 024 365 

UK Tax Refunds 965 636 938 

Bars, Cafés & Restaurants: 

Alley Palais Diner 968 978 869 

Bistro Bulgaria (CDA) 968 328 084 

Bistro Bulgaria Camposol 968 199 914 

Cafeteria Plaza 968 705 406 

Chez Zoe 676 691 324 

Don Ricardo’s 968 155 887 

Elliot’s Bar/Restaurant 968 158 499 

Le Gourmet 968 154 315 

Leonardo’s 628 682 303 

Liz’s Cafe 696 724 123 

Lucky´s Bar 600 336 391 

Mamma Mia 628 682 303 

Quality Indian 968 199 198 

Restaurante La Terraza 608 963 052 

Restaurant Manchica 672 909 503 

Restaurant Marina 619 500 555 

The Bistro (Alley Palais) 968 978 869 

The Arches 653 081 341 

The Spaniard Inn 608 963 052 

The Steak-Out 968 970 619 

Builders: 

Fuente Building Services 696 744 982 

Tony’s Building Services 647 119 952 

Building Services: 

Doors And More 968 431 190 

JD Roofing & Building 630 269 994 

JML Building Services 669 054 652 

Salglaze 634 342 294 

VIP Services 650 893 607 

Woodworks Direct 649 540 016 

Butchers: 

Anros Butchers 968 541 422 

Carpentry: 

Philip Carpenter/Joiner 680 443 219 

Car Hire: 

Bolnuevo Cars 968 150 979 

F&C Rent a Car 968 199 156 

Cars & Transport: 

Puncture Safe Murcia 968 979 260 

Specialist Vehicles SL 968 146 158 

Chimney Sweeps: 

Home from Home 660 478 881 

Tony Chimney Sweep 646 438 694 

Chiropodists: 

Philip Dawe 968 150 244 

Cleaning Services: 

Limpieza Rosa 619 199 407 

Tony Upholstery Cleaner 646 438 694 

Clothes Shops: 

Legs & Co. 660 792 513 

Computer Repairs & Sales: 

Camposol Computers 968 199 191 

Consulting IT Services 691 993 219 

Informaticasa 634 352 166 

Loco Murcia 968 971 893 

Dentist: 

Clinica Dental Alcazar 968 477 412 

Dental Care 968 199 111 

Olivier Houdusse 968 153 645 

Electricians: 

Louis Harris 619 712 821 

Entertainment: 

Nigel Birchill (Elvis) 602 439 313 

Funeral Plans: 

ASSSA 968 153 396 

The Funeral Director 650 631 719 

Furniture: 

DFS 968 334 194 

Furniture Plus 968 482 456 

Time for a Change 968 136 501 

Garden Centres: 

Garden Centre 2003 669 565 402 

Hairdressing: 

Jane’s Salon 968 158 433 

The Beauty Palace 968 971 828 

The Salon Camposol 691 916 717 

The Salon 2 686 354 232 

Health & Beauty: 

Beauty Essentials 663 176 233 

Cambridge 800 965 326 082 

Freedom Mobility 638 893 357 

Jane’s Salon 968 158 433 

Mark Phoenix 654 202 996 

Rosies Toesies 639 171 835 

Shape & Tone 661 002 648 

The Beauty Palace 968 971 828 

The Fuschia Beauty Clinic 630 439 480 

The Salon 691 916 717 

The Salon 2 686 354 232 

Heating and Aircon: 

Calida Gas & Oil 659 761 771 

Camposol Heating & Maintenance (CHM) 

968 199 184 

Crystal Designs 680 386 142 

Llamas Chimeneas 968 591 030 

Louis Harris 619 712 821 

Home Furnishings: 

Curtain Call 616 240 171 

Yorkshire Linen, Pto Maz 968 595 946 

Yorkshire Linen, San Javier968 193 912 

Insurance: 

ASSSA 968 153 396 

Ibex 968 595 945 

Linea Directa 902 123 975 

Nash Warren 968 156 583 

Page 100 





Internet Cafés: 

Alley Palais 968 978 869 

Camposol Computers 968 199 191 

Kennels and Catteries: 

Catatonic 646 705 403 

Colina Kennels 639 012 342 

Delmonte Cattery 968 168 711 

El Carro Cattery & Kennels 620 582 654 

Laundrettes: 

Rainbow Laundrette 634 309 603 

Legal Services: 

Nicky G Translation Services 

968 199 245 

Silvente Accountant/Lawyer 

968 332 058 

Locksmiths: 

ADS Locksmith 600 255 250 

Mechanics: 

Colair 626 796 149 

Decklid Auto Services 626 678 840 

Eurotyre 968 424 605 

Ken Sherwood Mechanic 679 646 859 

Kwik Fix English Mechanic 968 972 006 

Lopez Milan 968 429 216 

Mobile Car Mechanic 666 161 129 

Neumáticos El Ceña 968 422 015 

Metalwork & Security: 

Eriks 636 050 008 

Mobility Products: 

Freedom Mobility 638 893 357 

Medical: 

Calida Caring Agency 634 317 092 

Dr Enrique Garcia 667 448 109 

Outdoor Catering: 

The Roving Diner 676 217 059 

Outdoor Living: 

Furniture Plus 968 482 456 

Rentalia Invest 968 156 503 

Removals: 

Advance Moves 968 654 667 

Dainton’s 696 180 634 

Lord’s Removals & Storage 608 061 872 

Mar Menor Removals 696 621 884 

Retail Outlets: 

Just Fabulous Camposol 634 338 840 

Kitchens Plus 1 968 184 235 

Legs & Co 660 792 513 

Le Gourmet 968 154 315 

T J Electricals 868 181 121 

Time for a Change 968 136 501 

UK Supplies Direct 661 173 269 

Services: 

4 Legs Dog Grooming 608 712 599 

Compusurf 968 970 666 

Healthy H20 968 437 270 

House Clearance 639 737 944 

Petro Alhama 626 993 109 

Puncture Safe Murcia 968 979 260 

Solar Power: 

Freesol 659 232 507 

Solar Directa 659 315 130 

Solicitors: 

Professional and Legal Solutions 

968 595 826 

Silvente 968 332 067 

Spas & Hottubs: 

Eurospas 650 722 905 

Sport & Leisure: 

Alley Palais 968 978 869 

Costa Cálida Radio 902 903 783 

Dance Zone 649 647 467 

Enjoy Your Leisure 619 958 573 

Finca Fuentes 630 169 394 

Horse Riding META 636 172 198 

Shape & Tone 661 002 648 

Yoga & Pilates 630 288 978 

Yogamayga 968 150 755 

Painting and Decorating: 

RJB Décor Painting 699 044 742 

Trevor Smith 968 163 298 

Plumbers: 

Apache 24/7 Plumbing 674 788 693 

Calida Gas & Oil 659 761 771 

Camposol Heating & Maintenance 

968 199 184 

Printing & Design: 

Entorno Grafico 968 654 007 

Mister Print 638 893 357 

Property Maintenance: 

Trevor Smith 968 163 298 

Property Rentals: 

Euphoria 650 796 579 

La Manga 4 U 0044 7921 351298 

Owners Away 691 977 107 

Paramount Resort Villa Rentals 

968 970 614 

Property Sales: 

Another World Properties 968 592 679 

Best of Spanish 635 434 651 

Fuente Alamo Real Estate 968 598 173 

Holmes & Pegg 968 199 290 

Old Farmhouses 968 159 264 

Prime Property Murcia 646 692 471 

Swimming Pool Cleaning & 

Maintenance: 

Alpha Pools 968 971 824 

Jorge Pools 674 168 000 

Köhn Pool Service 968 138 638 

Watermaid 646 705 088 

Translation: 

Nicky G Translations 968 199 245 

Travel Agents 

DragonTours 968 199 021 

TV & Satellite: 

CTV Aerial & Satellite Systems 

600 218 046 

ISS 655 480 543 

Loco Murcia 968 971 893 

Rainbow Satellites 686 358 475 

T J Electricals 868 181 121 

YPM Satellites 628 234 045 

Veterinary Clinics: 

Clinica Veterinaria Pto Maz 968 153 931 

Emerg 608 466 553 

Clinica Veterinaria SurEste 965 352 438 

Veterinary Clinic Maskota 968 597 929 

Emerg 619 378 473 






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Please limit all reports to 300 words. 

We reserve the right to amend all articles 

for publication. 

CLASSIFIEDS ARE AVAILABLE 

FREE FOR ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE 

OF 500€ OR FOR WANTED/LOST 

ITEMS, FOR NON-COMMERCIAL 

ENTERPRISES ONLY. CARS AND 

BOATS ARE NOT INCLUDED FOR FREE. 

Max 20 words. Max 3 classifieds 

How to Place a Classified Ad 

Please go to www.costacalidachronicle. 

com and click on classified, or email 

costacalidachronicle@gmail.com or 

phone 968 970 680 between 10-2pm 

We will include inserts and flyers 

provided by you at a cost of 10 cents 

per flyer, max size A5. 

All adverts must be paid for before 15th 

of the month prior to publication. Please 

make cheques payable to Costa Calída 

Chronicle S.L. (Minimum amount for 

cheques is 50€). The closing date for 

adverts is the 15th of the month prior 

to publication. If you would like to meet 

someone to discuss your advert then 

please contact Teresa on 619 199 407 

to arrange an appointment, or visit 

Teresa in the mornings in CHM / 

Costa Cálida Chronicle Office (inside 

Holmes and Pegg), Camposol Sector B. 

If you wish to design your own advert, 

please send through a hard copy and a 

copy on disk (please label the disk with 

your name and telephone number), if 

possible. Please use Microsoft Word 

or save advert as JPEG file (300 dpi). 

Please do NOT send in adverts in 

Powerpoint as they are not good 

enough quality for printing. 


December 2012 Quiz Answers 

1. Who has a new office on Camposol? 

Liberty Seguros 

2. Who wrote “Crossfire”? 

Andy McNab 

3. What can Home from Home offer 

you? 

Professional Chimney Sweep 

4. Where might you find your favourite 

curry? 

Lucky’s Bar 

5. What was the herb of the month in 

November? 

Lovage 

6. Who is offering traditional Italian 

cooking with a Italian chef and Italian 

pizza maker? 

Mamma Mia’s Restaurant, Mazarrón 

7. Who offers Salglaze secondary 

glazing? 

Sallu Plastics 

8. What was special about November 

14 th ? 

World Diabetes Day 

9. What is META riding centre offering 

on December 9 th ? 

META Christmas Extravaganza 

10. Who is offering to keep you warm 

and cosy this winter? 

Llamas Chimeneas 

DISCLAIMER 

Whilst the CCC are happy to accept monthly reports from the various organizations in the area, the articles printed are not 

necessarily the opinions of the editor or publisher and the contents should be viewed as a guideline only. Professional 

advice should be sought to cover any information printed therein. Advertisements and reports are not formally endorsed 

by the CCC. We cannot accept responsibility for advertisers’ works, service or goods. The publishers endeavour to 

ensure the contents are correct, but cannot accept responsibility for the effects of errors or omissions. 

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January 2013 - Costa Calida Chronicle

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