The Rain in Spain............

The focus is now on the second booster dose, while continuing to offer new vaccination opportunities to those who, for whatever reason, have not yet started the process or are waiting to receive a dose.

The fisherman had suffered injuries to his legs, hips and head

Five new solar farms are being considered for placement in the surrounds of the Lagunas de La Mata and Torrevieja Natural Park, as well as the Hoyo Serrano and area later this year.

About to be put on public display, the plants are "Pedrera solar" (13 hectares), "Serrata solar" (12) and "Abanilla solar" (5) -all of them in Algorfa-, as well as "Torrevieja" (8, 3) and "Los Montesinos" (11.2), which are added to those that have already passed the public information process: "La Juliana 1 and 2" (62.4 hectares), "Lo Capitán" (13.5 ) and Casteles (5.5).

In total, there are nine plants in the same area: the eight above that require authorisation from the Generalitat plus "Vega del Segura" (270 hectares), which is under state jurisdiction.

In just one month, seven new planning requests have been submitted in Vega Baja taking the number of projects from 25 to 32.

The national average value of accumulated rainfall from the beginning of the hydrological year (October 1,2022) to December 22 is estimated at 219 l/m 2,which represents around 6% more than the normal value corresponding to said period (206 l/m 2).

The accumulated amounts are below their normal values in the Cantabrian coast,Catalonia,in most of Andalusia, the east of Valencia and Alicante,the Canary Islands and the western part of the Balearic Islands.

On the other hand,the normal values for the period 19812010 are exceeded in a large part of the interior and western third of the peninsula,Aragon,Castellón,eastern Mallorca and Menorca.

Particularly noteworthy are areas in the interior of Cuenca, in the Sierra de Gredos and in the northwest of Badajoz where these normal amounts are doubled.

Virtually all of the planning applications will be contested by a variety of environmental and neighbourhood groups, so at this stage none are a foregone conclusion.

The Orihuela City Council is objecting against the Torremendo and Sierra Escalona solar plant since "it irreparably affects the town". They say it will mean the occupation of 361,236 square meters in the northwest of the district, directly affecting urban planning, its development and growth, and even invading urban land to the extent that it is adjacent to some of the streets.

More than 500 signatures objecting to the project have already been collected by local residents.

When a close friend or a family member dies, the last thing you need is the worry of complex regulations and the red-tape of a Spanish funeral. At such a difficult time could you or your family cope with organising a funeral in Spain?

If not you need look no further than PF Samper, a third generation independent family funeral director, based in Pilar de la Horadada.

We know that the death of a loved one is a difficult experience, one that all of us are likely to experience during our lifetime, and when mourning the loss of a friend or a family member, the very last thing you want to think about is the planning of a funeral, a fact that is considerately recognised by Francisca, a long time supporter of The Royal British Legion, who has been helping the expat community from her family run business in Pilar for over 25 years.

“At PF Samper”, she says, “we aim to provide only the highest level of personal attention as we ease this process for you and your family. We will take expert care and provide due consideration to ensure that your loved one gets an appropriate and caring farewell, whilst making the funeral planning process is as painless as possible”.

“We will arrange a dedicated funeral service that will provide you and your family with full value, without compromise, a service that is designed to show respect, whilst still maintaining the dignity, the values and traditions so cherished by those who we serve”.

“We will also ensure that every life tribute is distinctive, personal and affordable, in honouring to the full a life that has been lived”.

In ensuring a 24 hour service, throughout the entire province of Alicante and North Western Murcia, PF Samper can be providing you with that care and support within an extremely short space of time. Francisca will immediately respond to your call and while you are able to grieve with dignity she will quickly take charge of all the initial arrangements.

“If you have a previously organised funeral plan we will