The Leader Newspaper 21 August 2023 – Edition 985

Fourteen people were rescued on Thursday morning after they were found by a fishing boat off the coast of Torrevieja. They had been in the water since Wednesday afternoon, wearing lifejackets, since Wednesday and included a woman, a seven-year-old girl and a young baby, who was placed in the remains of a petrol can.

The boat in which they were traveling capsized on Wednesday and, when rescued, they had been floating in the open sea for nearly 18 hours. The fourteen were all Algerian nationals and were transferred to the port of Alicante after they had suffered the rigors of the heat wave during the day and the night bobbing about in the sea. Although yet to be confirmed, it is thought that there could be at least two other deaths and a missing person.

The rescued people included ten men, a woman, a sevenyear-old girl and a two-month-old baby who are now being treated not only for burns, but also for jellyfish stings. Red Cross sources said that some have burns were caused by the mixture of sea saltpeter and diesel.

This was the second boat to be rescued at sea on Thursday, as fifteen people from another boat were located first thing in the morning, at about 6:30 a.m. just a few miles off the coast of Torrevieja.

The alert of the shipwrecked boat was given by a fishing vessel on Thursday noon after it spotted a number of people floating in the sea. The fishing boat ‘Nuevo Joaquina Antonio’ found them 45 miles southwest of Alicante, immediately notifying the Emergency Services that they had people in sight in the water.

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Rescued

after 18 hours in sea

The humanitarian action of this ship, based in the port of Almería, has contributed to saving the lives of the immigrants, while the rescue workers arrived.

The rescued migrants have told them that the boat they were traveling in capsized around 5:30 p.m. the day before, since which time they had been in the sea waiting for help.

The skipper of the fishing boat said that he was very impressed by the condition of those rescued and just a few hours later he personally contacted the Red Cross to inquire about the state of the baby.

All of those rescued were wearing life jackets, so they were able to stay afloat. The Salvamar Leo Maritime Rescue vessel was the first to attend the shipwreck.

Initially there was some confusion and even contradictory data, because it was not known if they had been able to get all the immigrants out of the water. According to the statements of those who

SALT AND SEA MUSEUM REOPENS IN TORREVIEJA

The Museum of the Sea and Salt, located in Calle Patricio Pérez, has reopened its doors to the public following a muchneeded refurbishment of the facility.

It is now open every day from Tuesday to Saturday. The opening hours from Tuesday to Friday are from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; On Saturdays the opening hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Sundays and Mondays the museum will be closed.

This refurbishment was carried out to update the image of the museum to a more modern, comprehensive and accessible centre. The premises has been completely redecorated, as well as the placement of many more information panels which have been divided into three sections: Torrevieja

were rescued, there were two people dead and one missing, and although not confirmed the patrol boat and a Sasemar 305 aircraft were tasked with exploring the area in a search for the possible missing persons.

One of those floating in the water was rescued by a Maritime Rescue and taken to the Alicante-Elche airport, where he received assistance. The rest were taken to the Alicante port by the Salvamar Leo, where a team from the Red Cross was waiting to provide medical assistance.

Sources from the rescue service said that some of them could hardly move due to exhaustion. Among them, a baby and a young girl, whose condition was said to be serious, although there was no fear for their lives. Many of those rescued also had numerous injuries to their bodies, having spent the night in the water and without being able to sleep. They also spent long hours under the sun, on a day in which the heat was intense. Red Cross volunteers had to help them move from the boat to the health care point, with many of them unable to even stand up.

One of the Red Cross volunteers also said that,

according to the comments of those rescued, it was the vests that allowed them to remain floating in the sea. In the case of the baby, the immigrants said that they cut a gasoline drum open to put the little one inside, using it as a lifeboat, while the others were making shadows, with their hands to protect him from the sun.

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and the Sea, Torrevieja and la Sal, and Torrevieja and its History; in which the history of the city is explained from a historical and ethnographic point of view. This narrative discourse, at the same time, is reinforced with the objects to which the history of the panels can relate.

P O E T R Y C O R N E R PERSECUTING SOCIETY

Blessed be your soul, Blessed be your heart, Watch your flesh corrode, Ripping men apart.

The fear in the street, So murderous is their eye, Cursed be the damned, Hanging around to die.

Nothing to live for, No wife or no homes, Hippies of the suburbs, The men sit out alone.

Riots in the streets, No money or a life, The pressure on the Government, Their constituents in strife.

Politicians gamble, And lie to save their skin, Killing our society, The worlds biggest sin.

By Ritchie Martin

To see your poem published on this page send to: office@theleader.info

Alongside these studies and collections, a QR code has been created, which is linked to a web page where you can find the exhibition panels in both Spanish and English, and, in the near future, audio guides will also be available, as well as panels in other languages and additional information.

CONTROVERSIAL EXIT FOR LOS MONTESINOS FROM GRAND PRIX

Aquestion about mining in the final challenge of the fourth and last Grand Prix semi-final, broadcast on Monday night on TVE, sparked anger among the 5,400 residents of Los Montesinos, who faced Tineo (Asturias) in this inter-town contest, presented by tv personality, Ramón García.

The anger was more than justifiable: "We lost the program in the last challenge because they are a mining town and the question was related to mining ," explained Alejandro Espí, cultural promoter of Los Montesinos.

As was evident, the contestants from the Asturian town knew the answer, which is why they got that much-needed point to win the program and qualify, along with the other three winning semi finalists, in the competition. "Not only did we lose the program because of that point, but we dropped to fifth in the standings and, therefore, we have not moved on to the next phase," said Espí.

"LOS MONTESINOS ON THE MAP"

However, the town in Vega Baja felt their participation was more than worthwhile, since, as the cultural manager pointed out, "we have managed to put ourselves on the map in a program with a national audience." "We are very proud because almost 200 towns applied and we were lucky to be able to represent the Valencian Community," he added.

Los Montesinos has always been a keen follower of the Grand Prix and has even organised events and competitions in the town similar to it’s format. So, when TVE announced the return of the program 18 years after it was last broadcast, Espí did not hesitate to contact the network. "It was all very

fast. In three days we had to make a video to present the town without any resident knowing about it. We sent it to the program makers in April”.

The video had to explain the reason why they wanted to take part and what they were going to spend the money they won. "The reason was clear. We wanted to promote our town across the country and we wanted to donate the money to the farmers affected by the drought," said Espí, who acknowledged that "everything had to be done with great secrecy and caution so that nothing was leaked."

Once the town was selected, the next step was to choose the contestants. In total, 30 residents would participate, five would be substitutes and another hundred would be part of the public support. All of them travelled to a Fuenlabrada industrial estate where the the recording of the programme took place, which took about ten hours.

Fran Guirau was one of those selected. He remembers watching the program from a very young age with his grandfather. He was surprised by the lack of space on the set, since, in his words, he "thought it would be bigger." Emma Espinosa also acknowledged that "it looks different on the inside, but it is a very cool experience because it has raised the profile of the municipality."

Nayara Rebollo, who also followed the program from a very young age, emphasized the "sportsmanship of the other team." "We made a lot of friends during the recording," she said.

LET’S ALL GO TO THE MOON

Forget everything that´s happening in the world this week for now, the first thing we need to talk about is, if prediction models are correct, the temperatures will start to drop next week. More on that story as it develops.

The Spanish election outcome should also come to a conclusion this week, after the parliamentarians started to form their tables and groups. The week saw a fallout between the PP and Vox, although in Valencia they are whistling in the wind pretending everything is fine, but the result was that the PP lost their necessary support. The current belief is that the PP will claim that they still have the public´s support, whereas the PSOE will claim to have the Government´s support, and so, unless the respective leaders decide on a Musk Vs Zuckerberg cage fight, the King is expected to resolve the impasse. Today, Monday, is the day set aside in the monarch´s schedule to hold the respective meetings (he has, so far, left the rest of the week blank in his diary!). Last week brought a lot of negative sentiment to the financial markets, particularly raising uncertainty in the Chinese economy. Investors expect other significant events this week and are keeping their global eyes on the S&P 500 index, the EUR/USD, and

Bitcoin.

The panic in the market and the increased risk of recession triggered the flight of capital from risky assets. Consequently, the dollar rose significantly against most developed country currencies. EUR/USD is heading towards a resistance zone around 1,081 and could move closer to that level this week.

India and Russia (so the sanctions are working then!) will land on the moon this week. On Monday, the Lunar-25 probe launched by Russian space agency Roscosmos is due to land on the lunar south pole, where it is scheduled to spend a year analysing the surface, but the cosmonauts will be joined two days later by India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, having travelled around the Earth’s orbit multiple times since launching on July 14. NASA’s Crew-7 mission is also planned for launch on Friday, heading for the ISS. Back on earth, and in the UK specifically, you’ll never guess one of the main headlines likely to make the front pages this week… Okay, we will tell you… Immigration! This week’s reason is because the quarterly stats are released on Thursday on immigration and irregular migration to the UK. There could be good news, or bad news, for

UK households, as Ofgem will announce the next change to the energy price cap on Friday. It is worth remembering that even if the price drops, it will still be higher than it was. Ukraine will inevitably loom large as the country marks Independence Day on Thursday, exactly 18 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in Feb 2022. GCSE results are published this week, and in the world of sport the PGA Tour Championship begins, as does the Vuelta a España cycle race, and we have the Hundred (cricket) finals and the F1 Netherlands Grand Prix, whereas for the multi-culturists amongst us, it’s the Notting Hill Carnival on Saturday. Back in Spain, and Friday is a key date locally, as it marks the anniversary of the 1938 bombing of Torrevieja. On 25 August 1938, Italian fascist aviation “Savoia”, at the command of the revolted Francoist army, attacked Torrevieja, in a bombing raid that caused 19

deaths and dozens of injuries, the vast majority of them civilians.

Each year on 25 August, at the Hombre del Mar monument in Torrevieja, a gathering takes place to mark the anniversary where the participants throw a carnation into the sea for each of the victims, while reading their names.

The solemn mood may not be reflected a little further down the promenade as the SOUND UP Festival also takes place on Friday, where upcoming entertainers will perform in the natural pool area with the winner subsequently participating in the "Brilla Torrevieja" Festival.

Final point, next Monday is a bank holiday in the UK, which is significant to us in Spain as we tend to see many of the UK tourists returning home for that date. As for the Spanish, we have to wait until the end of next week until they “return” home.

Orihuela Costa prefabricated school postponed to 2024

The new Infant and Primary School Number 20, Dehesa de Campoamor de Orihuela, was scheduled to be ready to open in prefabricated classrooms, ready for the new school year, on 11 September, but now, with the building plot changed on four different occasions, the mayor Pepe Vegara (PP), has had to admit that it will not be ready until the beginning of 2024.

The decision to build a new centre, that will cater for the enormous school demand of Orihuela Costa was agreed on December 14, 2022 by the Generalitat, but the Orihuela City Council, neither the previous government nor the present one, has been able to allocate a municipal plot. It has now changed the criteria, and the proposed location, on four different occasions.

In April the Ministry of Education awarded the assembly, rental and disassembly of the prefabricated classrooms to Alquileres Barceló Sáez SL for 1.2 million euros. Designed as a single-story construction, with a capacity for 380 infant and junior students, classrooms, a dining room, patio and common

facilities, it had a construction period of two months.

It could be ready, we were told, in plenty of time to ensure it’s opening for the new school year on 11 September, with the facilities remaining until the construction of a new school in a further three academic years.

The original plot on Calle Nispero, in the Los Dolses urbanisation, was considered inappropriate due to its slope, this despite the fact that the Colegio Playas de Orihuela had been sited on that very plot for 16 years, until 2018.

Faced with this rejection, the PSOECs government proposed a new location in the parking lot of the La Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre, with the easy provision of services and very well connected. However, this was discarded because the remaining area could not provide the minimum amount of parking required by the General Plan for that area.

A plot across the road in Calle Madreperla was the next to be selected. It was only necessary to process an asphalting contract to get the plot ready, however, at the

beginning of the current term, the newly elected PP-Vox government team changed its mind again. The Councilor for Education, Vicente Pina, and the Councilor for Urban Planning, Matías Ruiz, insisted that the only sensible location was the plot originally selected on Calle Níspero.

Unfortunately, though, the chosen plot is already in use and will require a substantial amount of work just to get it ready.

The plot has a perimeter fence that

is in very poor condition, there is still talk about levelling the slope, and that same contract must also contemplate the removal of tons of rubble, scrap equipment and all kinds of furniture that the area has accumulated, without any type of control since the Playas de Orihuela was dismantled five years ago. With the build contract allocated just 1.2 million euros, and the newly chosen plot in an extremely unfortunate state, it seems that the amount will have to be considerably

improved if the school is to be built any time soon.

Despite the need for urgent expansion to accommodate the additional influx of children requiring junior and primary education on the coast, the Orihuela City Council has still not prepared or approved the report for the project, the document necessary for the Generalitat to finance the new school , while the municipality continues with the drafting of the project and the award of the works.

The original Los Dolses plot was considered inappropriate despite the fact that the Colegio Playas de Orihuela had been sited there for 16 years.

BROTHERS ARRESTED IN LOS ALCAZARES FOR PEOPLE SMUGGLING

Two brothers, aged 20 and 30 and both residents of France, have been arrested in Los Alcázares for smuggling 10 Algerians into Spain by boat. They were landed close to Cabo de Palos on the Murcian coast from a 7meter-long semi-rigid boat-

The operation began last month, after the Civil Guard became aware that two Algerian citizens, with French documentation, had rented a mooring point in a marina in the Marmenor municipality of Los Alcázares, which they paid for in cash. The agents learned that the moored boat had a 225-hp engine, one of those usually used in high-speed boats dedicated to drug trafficking or the illegal transport of people and goods.

In collaboration with the Los Alcázares Local Police, the Guardia Civil established discreet surveillance around the suspects and the boat learning how the individuals set sail at night, as they entered the sea towards North Africa.

The operation culminated with the location of 10 people, all undocumented

and of Algerian nationality, on the beaches of Calblanque; and, minutes later, with the arrest of the two suspects upon arrival at the port.

That same morning, the Civil Guard located a similar vessel sailing towards

ORIHUELA RECEIVES SPARES TO REPAIR 100 MSW WASTE CONTAINERS

Work will begin to repair broken containers in the next few days

the Murcian coast, which also turned out to be suspicious. Apparently, between 15 and 20 people were travelling on the boat who, were disembarked on a beach in the Cartagena municipality of Cabo de Palos.

TORREVIEJA WOMAN GIVEN 5 YEARS FOR MATRICIDE

The Provincial Court in Alicante has sentenced a Lithuanian woman of Russian origin to five years in prison, after she strangled her 78year-old mother with a rope while she was resting in a bed at her home in Torrevieja.

Originally facing a trial by jury in July in Elche, where the woman faced 26 years in prison, the prosecutor and defence reached an agreement of conformity and reduced the

sentence to five years by modifying the accusation of murder to manslaughter and applying the incomplete defence of mental anomaly, the mitigation of late confession and the aggravating factor of kinship.

The facts declared proven in the sentence handed down by the presiding magistrate, Francisco Javier Saravia, occurred in June 2021 in Torrevieja.

THE CURIOUS FLIGHT FROM ALICANTE TO MURCIA

A curious passenger at Alicante-Elche Airport embarked on a quest to find out why the departure screens at the Costa Blanca airport were showing a flight to Murcia, an airport just over 70 kilometres away.

Unable to find the answer at the airport, where staff just assumed it was a mistake, FlightRadar24 was the next port of call which shows that the flight does indeed exist, although it is not possible to board.

The flight, TB1187, covers a route between the Belgian city of Ostend and the Region of

Murcia, via Alicante, and as the operator, TUI, subsequently explained, it is a "triangle flight" that carries passengers between Alicante and Murcia and Belgium, but not between the two Spanish cities.

This flight takes place regularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays until November.

The Orihuela Council has received a new supply of spares parts for the containers and dustbins used across the municipality, with which it staff will be able to repair more than a hundred municipally owned side-load containers.

The cost of the spare parts amounts to 57,172.50 euros, with the same amount also included in the budget for the next financial year 2024. These spare parts are necessary to repair broken containers and bins as well as those that have been vandalised.

The Councilor for Street Cleaning and USW, Rocío Ortuño, has announced that in the next few days service workers will begin to repair the containers.

BUSY JULY FOR LOCAL AIRPORTS

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport registered a total of 1,713,090 passengers this July, an increase of 12.7% compared to the same month in 2022. Of the total number of travellers, 1,484,306 travelled on international flights, 14.7% more than last July, and 226,503 were on national routes, 0.8% more than last year. Thus, 10,584 aircraft took off from the Elche infrastructure last month, exceeding the movements of the same period of the previous year by 8.2%. A total of 579,627 trav-

ellers arrived from the United Kingdom or went to the British Isles, followed by Norway, with 122,587 travellers; Germany, with 103,885; The Netherlands, with 98,930; and Sweden, with 83,726.

Alicante-Elche Airport closes the first seven months of 2023 with a figure of 8,785,549 passengers, which also implies a growth of 21.6% with the previous year, in addition to increasing by 12.1 % of flights from January to July with a total of 56,413 routes.

Meanwhile, at the southern end of the area, the Region of Murcia International Airport, known by many as Corvera, registered a total of 497,566 travellers between January and July. This figure represents an increase of 6% compared to the same period in 2022. Of the total number of passengers, 493,816 used commercial flights and 450,341 of them corresponded to international traffic, 6% more than in the first seven months of the previous year.

Regarding the movement of aircraft, a total of 3,839 operated at the airport between January and July (0.4% more than in 2022). Of these operations, 3,493 were of a commercial nature, and international traffic was

the majority, with a total of 3,020 flights. During the month of July, 117,459 passengers used the facilities of the Región de Murcia International Airport, which also registered 819 landing and take-off operations. Because you’re no doubt itching to know, the year before San Javier airport closed (2018), there were 1,273,424 passengers served, and so, for the 7 months of this year Corvera saw 71,000 per month on average, whereas San Javier in its last year averaged 106,000 per month. In fact, San Javier has outperformed Corvera, and by a considerable margin, every year for the 15 years of data available prior to closing.

Best to leave the pistol on the wall

In recent times, we might be forgiven for thinking we were living in a Russian play. When Irina, the youngest of Chekhov's Three Sisters, says, "How are we supposed to go on like this?" most of us would probably just shrug fatalistically and look glumly at the other two sisters. Besides being a playwright, Chekhov was master of the modern short story, and often wrote offering guidance to fellow writers: "Don't tell me the moon is shining," he would admonish them. "Show me the glint of light on broken glass." Isn't that incitement to vandalism or burglary? His most famous piece of advice is called 'Chekhov's Gun': "If in the first act you hang a pistol on the wall, in the following act it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there." Now he's graduated to wounding and manslaughter. Clearly Chekhov wasn't a fan of red herrings, so it's probably just as well he didn't live long enough to read Agatha Christie, although their lives did overlap. To Chekhov, little grey cells were where dissidents ended up. Incidentally, isn't it strange that there are around 200 species of herring, and not one of them is red?

We are all living with drama now, after a fashion, although in most cases not a fashion we hope will catch on. Modern dramatists would have us believe that talking solves everything, especially when we gather in the study (or train carriage) to listen to Hercule Poirot's brilliant explanation of how the culprit murdered the deceased. There's usually a woman or a will involved, sometimes both.

But much of the time talk is cheap, especially compared to a picture that is worth a thousand euros. Yet when we are feeling low, various people offer us ways to get high on words. Talk to a counsellor,

YELLOW BIRD OF PARADISE ATTRACTS BUTTERFLIES AND HONEYBEES

SO POIROT, MON AMI, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OUR LITTLE GREY CELLS?

an adviser, one of our sales people, a nowin-no-fee lawyer, a psychiatrist, a top TV chef, a bakery expert, a fitness instructor in a leotard, or ask your satnav for advice if your life is going in the wrong direction.

"Words, words, words," said Hamlet, and you may end up as loony as he was if you don't watch out, it can easily happen, look at me.

Poor old Chekhov suffered terribly from tuberculosis, but that didn't prevent him from helping out as a doctor in the cholera pandemic of 1892, when he spoke out against injustice in the distribution of resources between rich and poor coun-

tries. "Plus ça change," he might have remarked, looking at our pandemic, although he would have said it in Russian, perhaps. (Or with a Russian accent.)

Chekhov visited Sakhalin, just as Biggles did in Biggles Buries a Hatchet, when he went there to rescue his arch-enemy Erich von Stalhein, who was imprisoned on that island. Biggles' creator, Captain W.E. Johns, doesn't make it clear exactly where the hatchet is going to be buried. Had he previously mentioned a hatchet in a glass case on the wall, possibly, like Chekhov's Gun?

Caesalpinia Gilliesii - commonly called the Yellow Bird of Paradise or Dwarf Yellow Poinciana - is one of the most exotic amongst the world of plants. An attractive, deciduous shrub or small tree, it will beautifully decorate your garden in July and August, with large yellow clusters of flowers that rise above ornamental leaves.

Their long red stamen protrude from every funnel shaped flower, which look like splashes of fiery lava. An ideal plant for the Mediterranean climate, as all they need is exposure to full sun, along with average temperatures of 15-25 C. They will not tolerate frost; with soil to be welldrained and rich in humus, with a constant water supply.

You can propagate by seeds, cuttings, or dividing plants. The easiest is by taking softwood cuttings in the spring and early summer. Simply sever the stem between the leaf joints or nodes, just below a node. There is a beneficial value to the plant, as butterflies and honeybees are attracted to its flowers, in search of nectar, food, shelter and protection.

Princess Leonor begins her Military Service

Princess Leonor began her three years of military training on Thursday, that, after passing through the Air and Space Force, the Army, and the Navy academies, will prepare her, once she is Queen, to become the first female Captain General of the Armed Forces, in accordance with the Spanish Constitution.

"This is an important period in my life, and I feel very excited," she said, talking about her "respect for others, effort, excellence, search for knowledge, temperance, discipline and perseverance".

With little time to become acquainted with her new surroundings, Leonor’s actual military training, which will last for the next three years, began on Friday, during which she will be subject to a very demanding and rigorous schedule, with very little free time.

The heiress to the throne will receive training that has been expressly prepared for her by the Department of Defence, with the approval of the King.

For this, what would normally be five years of studies have been condensed into three, hence, after passing through Zaragoza, the second year she will continue with military training at the Marín Naval School, in Pontevedra, where she will embark on the Juan Sebastián Elcano training ship.

Signing on the dotted line

Finally, for the third year she will move to the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier in Murcia.

In total, the Academy received 612 new cadets, of which 140 are women. In what was an open day for journalists, cadets from the academy explained the steps that Leonor is going to follow and what her life, and that of her colleagues, will be like from now on.

INTERNATIONAL REGATTA IN TORREVIEJA

Many of the new arrivals were accompanied by their parents, who were given an opportunity to visit the facilities where their children will live for the next few years, but by early afternoon the cadets were on their own as they were assigned rooms and they met their companions. They also stopped by the hairdresser and the Quartermaster’s store where they received their uniforms.

The first two weeks of the course are for familiarisation, during which time they will receive basic knowledge on military legislation and regulations, complemented with physical training and military instruction.

The momentous day for all of the new students, and the first ‘day proper’ of their military careers, will be on 7 October, when they pledge their allegiance to Spain and kiss the ensign, at which time Princess Leonor, and her colleagues, will promise to defend Spain, with their lives.

The Costa Blanca will host sailors from around the globe in the Europa OP 2023 International One Metre Class European Championship,from October 7 to 13,organised by the Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja together with the One Metre Class Association (IOMICA).

The event will bring together 80 sailors representing 14 countries: Germany, Argentina,Austria,Chile,Croatia, Denmark,France,Great Britain,Hungary, Italy,Norway,Poland,Portugal and Spain.

The Croatian Zvonko Jelacic is the strongest rival and the one everyone wants to beat and that is what the other 79 sailors are going to work on,highlighting among all of them the French Olivier Cohen (current world champion) and Alexis Carré,

the Italian Pierluigi

and the British Rob Walsh,without forgetting the great Spanish asset Guillermo Beltri,from the RCN of Torrevieja,who finished sixth in the World Cup in Croatia.

Spain,being the host country,is the one with the greatest participation,it does so with 12 sailors.Both Croatia and France arrive at the Torrevieja regatta with 11 sailors each.Great Britain and Italy will be represented by 9,while Norway will do so with 4,Germany,Portugal and Poland with 3,Austria with 2 and Chile,Argentina, Denmark and Hungary with 1. Sorry,forgot to mention,they are tiny boats,hence the one metre reference,and radio controlled.

Puthod

THE RABBIT IS MY CURRENT ROLE MODEL.......!

First and foremost let me place on record here that I am not a rabbit lover … far from it –unless he is a dinner in a boiling pot surrounded by carrots and onions. You may look upon the pesky little creatures as your furry friends; but these are the same guys who kill the shrubs lovingly tended by Mrs Youcantbeserious - and 40 of them down the field will eat as much grass as one Dexter cow. Whatever is the opposite of ‘happy wifehappy life’, is what those ravenous rabbits have brought to what was once my peaceful existence. I tried to banish them from our little ‘forest’ at the end of the house … but it can’t be done and I hereby admit defeat and surrender to the dozens of white-tailed invaders who have forcibly taken possession of part of my legally owned territory.

I rose early this morning; getting up being particularly pleasurable on a bright, sunny August morning. On opening the back door, a score of weanling rabbits hightailed it off into the forest. This time I didn’t threaten gunfire on them or use any expletives. In fact, the realisation hit me that the rabbits are our great hope for the future. This most resilient of creatures is an example to mankind. As the little, stuck-up white tails disappeared into the bushes, I saluted them with that most poetic of all Irish compli-

ments;

‘Fair f**ks to you!’

Mankind can take hope for our survival by latching on to the story of the rabbit. Has any living creature suffered more persecution? We hunted them with dogs, snared them with wire, dug them out of burrows – and still they came back more plentiful and stronger each time.

In the mid-1950s myxomatosis came to Ireland and was welcomed by farmers, because the disease was going to eliminate the rabbit population once and for all. They died in their millions and that was to be the end of the ‘poor man’s dinner.’ The incredible thing about all this is that the rabbit didn’t see it this way at all. Jack and Bunny just kept plugging away; doing what rabbits do best and so they gradually grew and expanded back to their former glory.

We humans are now in a similar predicament to the 1950s rabbit. Our planet is being burned and flooded from under our feet. Temperatures in Morocco exceeded 50* yesterday. Nothing but scorched earth remains of the Hawaiian town of Lahinaina. We had the wettest July in Ireland since records began. Spain and Portugal are experiencing their third heatwave of this summer. Bush fires are out of control from southern Europe to North America. Rising

sea levels is something that should greatly concern us on this island. Despite the crazy deniers – like those in America, Argentina and Brazil, the entire human race is facing the risk of total extinction.

‘Climate change is here. It is terrifying and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended. The era of global boiling has arrived.’ Those words are the stark message from UN Secretary General Antonia Guterres during a re1cent address.

But all is not yet lost … and we have been here before. It has always felt as if society was in decline and the human order coming apart. The great flu of 1918 looked like it might wipe us out: In the 1600s plagues swiped out entire cities and the inhabitants of London believed it was the end of the world. It looked for a while as if Covid might take us all out … but here we are still standing.

With the help of God we will survive climate change too. Undoubtedly the herd will be thinned out and severely chastened before we turn the corner. And it is people – the real leaders, who will help us turn that corner. Don’t give up, or be cynical, or despair. Just think how far the decedents of the 1950s rabbit have come!

Today I saw a 6’ nettle. The bare stem grew and zig zagged six feet up through stacked bales of silage until its head could see the sun. Again, all I could say was ‘fair f##ks!!’

We’ll all be grand …

DON’T FORGET

As YCBS is a ‘public service’ (!) we don’t do commercials! However, for only the second time in 17 years, we are making an exception here this week.

LIONS COSTA BLANCA CAMP HELD IN ALFAZ

From July 17 to 31, the Lions International once again organized their Lions Costa Blanca Camp, this year hosting 19 young people between the ages of 18 and 21, from 16 different countries.

The camp director/president of the Lions club Alfaz del pi Alain Van de Merlen and the president of the camp Jose Luis Lopez Cancho, member of the Lions club Benidorm, could not be happier with this group of young people.

This group of young people spent 14 days discovering Spain and its customs, taking trips to Benidorm, Alicante, Valencia, Guadalest and

On 8th September I am embarking on a 100km sponsored Camino trek, to raise funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation.

I am paying all my own flights and expenses so that every Euro (and every Euro makes a difference) will go to where it is intended; The Irish Hospice Foundation.

If you would like to give us a bit of sponsorship it will be greatly appreciated.

You know yourself …! Thank you!

La Nucia, doing many sports and team building activities, and new friendships are built.

Our greatest thanks go to the various municipalities that have supported us in this as well as to Lope de Vega International School, where the young people have stayed.

Do you also have young people between the ages of 18 and 21, and do they also want to participate as an ambassador for the Lions, in the next camp next summer, please contact Alain Van de Merlen via: lionsclubalfazdelpi@hotmail.com

If you also want to become a member of our club, you can also reach us via the same e-mail address.

The camp comprised of 19 young people from 16 countries.

National Police nab Luxury Vehicle Thieves in Guardamar

110 grams of cocaine arranged in doses for retail sale as well as another stolen car.

In this first phase of the investigation, the agents arrested the three people for the alleged crimes of vehicle theft, documentary falsification, theft and drug trafficking. The investigation continued as they found more anonymous fingerprints on the stolen vehicles. Thanks to international police collaboration, another possible perpetrator, of Polish nationality, was identified, who had criminal records both in his country and in Germany.

The man had a European Arrest Warrant for Extradition (OEDE) issued by Poland for vehicle theft.

towns of Elche, Aspe and Guardamar del Segura.

In the searches, the agents recovered two stolen vehicles, one of them stolen the day before the police action, as well as a large number of sophisticated tools and electronic devices intended for the theft of vehicles, such as starting devices, frequency inhibitors, key cloners for different brands of vehicles, especially high-end vehicles, numerous counterfeit number plates, cash, documentation, and a

Charity Walk for San José Obrero Orphanage

Officers from the National Police arrested three individuals, two of them in the town of Guardamar del Segura, thus finally dismantling a criminal organisation dedicated to the theft of high-end vehicles.

The police investigation began a year ago after the theft of a vehicle in Alicante. The agents managed to

locate the car, which was in the process of being dismantled, in a house in Torrellano (Elche). Three men were arrested as the main suspects in the commission of this theft and the agents seized multiple tools that they had used, including frequency inhibitors, key cloners and lock picks. Police officers also seized

In addition, two more members of the organisation dedicated to the theft of high-end vehicles were identified, residing in Guardamar del Segura, where they had two clandestine workshops from which the organisation operated.

Finally, the agents began the operational exploitation phase, making four entries and house searches, all authorised by court order, in the

The Deputy Mayor of Torrevieja, Rosario Martinez, will be amongst those taking part in a sponsored walk on Sunday 24 September in aid of San José Obrero Orphanage, Torrevieja.

The walk will get underway at 11am, starting and finishing at the Kiosk, Cabo Cervera, and covering a flat course, along the coast, of approximately 4km.

Supported by U3A Torrevieja, all

simulated gun.

The three men were arrested for the alleged crimes of vehicle theft, document falsification and belonging to a criminal organisation. Subsequently, they were placed at the disposal of the Investigating Courts of Torrevieja and Aspe, which agreed provisional detention for the three, leaving one of them at the disposal of the Central Investigating Court of the National Court, which is in charge of resolving the European Order.

monies raised will be donated to this worthwhile children’s charity. More information, details and sponsorship forms, are available from Christine on 634 329 695 or Lyn on 676 650 210

by Tony Mayes

Where do you think the worst poison or bacteria-infecting insects lurk, the UK or abroad?

Most of you will instantly say abroad...believing that in the UK we are safe from the most horrible insects likely to do us real harm. After all, we don’t have scorpions, the deadliest snakes or malaria-infecting mosquitoes. Yes, we do have wasps, bees, gnats, some poisonous spiders and also horse flies, but unless you are highly allergic to something nasty, you’re generally as safe as houses in the UK.

Or are you? Well, I think not. A fortnight ago I cooked breakfast and washed up for the two of us (yes, I am a real man!!) and had a shower. As I stepped out, I felt terribly shivery and cold. I couldn’t believe how ill I felt. Had I caught Covid? I thought.

I told my wife I felt so ill I had to go to bed –which is so unlike me because, touch wood, I am never ill.

I went to sleep and after about an hour I woke up and the shivering had gone. I thought, whatever it was, it wasn’t Covid. I got up and then it hit me. The pain in my right leg was so intense I could hardly cope with it. I had never experienced pain like it before. On the Richter scale it was nine out of 10!

I went back to bed and thought, let’s hope the pain goes as quickly as the shivering. After about an hour I woke again and the pain was just as bad, it was obvious I had to get to hospital.

Luckily, with care, I was still able to drive, so I took myself to A&E where I had umpteen tests, and, from the attitude of the consultant, he was concerned.

I was put on an antibiotic drip and finally was discharged about 11pm. I had to return to A&E for the following 10 days for a drip every day.

During that time my thigh, calf, ankle and foot swelled up to elephant proportions. The pain gradually subsided and that made it easier to walk.

Every day I would see the consultant who showed me my stats, from the time I arrived in A&E to date and, in particular, he showed me my white blood cell count, which should be around 7 but was 27. He said he had no idea what bit me, but whatever it was the bite was probably around my inside knee, and the poison travelled up to my thigh and down to my calf and foot. He said it was

DON’T LET THE BUGS BITE!

good I got to hospital when I did, because a few hours later and it could have been very serious.

After the nine days of drips, he put me on another seven days of oral antibiotics. At the time of writing, the pain has gone, and swelling in my thigh and upper calf has gone, but swelling in my lower calf and foot is still more than noticeable.

The best theory is that whatever bit me was probably a horse fly or a spider. So, the moral of all this is don’t be complacent – if you see an insect, you don’t like the look of, beware!!

Ironically, a week ago we opened a container full of mushrooms from a supermarket and crawling about on them was a long green caterpillar. Some of the really poisonous critters could well be coming into the UK from other continents.

***********

While we were in Orihuela Costa, last winter and spring, we were appalled at the neglect inflicted on the area by the local council. Rubbish left uncollected around waste bins in the street, weeds growing in the gutters, garden bins never emptied and the same with recycle bins, making you wonder why on earth you bother to recycle.

Add to that the ridiculous plague of home building going on everywhere, adding to the already exploding population without any regard to the need to improve the infrastructure, roads, sewerage network, hospital and doctor care and other essentials needed for comfortable modern living.

Well, sad to say, it’s as bad, if not worse in the UK. It’s as if the UK government have caught Orihuela Costa disease. Where we live, there is building going on everywhere, fields converted to housing estates, traffic jams caused because of services being brought in, digging up all the roads. On bin collection days seagulls have a field day, ripping up bin bags and throwing rubbish everywhere. Public refuse sites are overflowing, caused because the recycling sites are closed more than they are open.

Councils were overjoyed when environmentalists suggested grass verges along the sides or roads should be left uncut. It meant councils could save a fortune on road maintenance. Can you imagine anything still living along road edges with traffic constantly travelling inches away?. Yet another load of total money-saving nonsense.

Sides of roads have not been touched for months, and the result? Trees and bushes growing over road signs, and those which are visible are covered with green algae. White lines on roads? Forget it. They haven’t

been re-painted for months, so it is really dangerous to drive at night, especially if it’s raining. Pot holes? Britain has almost the worst in Europe.

Orihuela Council has cut council services to provide more money for the city. The UK government have cut services – to the NHS, education, public services, to local councils, road building programme. You name it, the

Two new officers for San Fulgencio Local Police

San Fulgencio has increased the number of itís Local Police staff thanks to the incorporation of two new officers, from the employment pool, following the selection process carried out by the Council of Catral. The officers join the 24 members that currently make up the local police municipal force.

Tory government has axed spending on it for years, just to cut raising taxes to the rich and it’s now hitting the UK dearly.

If you put off maintaining your own home, it only costs far more in the long run. It’s the same with running the country, the people in the UK are now really paying the price for a lack of maintenance caused through stupid Tory spending cuts.

The mayor and the councillor for Security, JosÈ MarÌa Ballester, along with the chief commissioner, CristÛbal RodrÌguez, welcomed and congratulated the two new agents at the Town Hall. The mayor spoke of "their responsibility to work for our town and protect our residents", while noting his commitment "to continue to gradually expand the staff to ensure the safety of everyone, as well as more efficient and faster interventions in the event of an emergency".

NATURE

Fox killed in La Mata Natural Park

The Leader featured the magnificent La Mata Natural Park, recently, with a plethora of wildlife across over 3,000 acres, covering much of the protected area.

Included in the feature was a fox. Sadly, a fox has been found dead in the park, with its throat slashed, laying lifeless on the footpath.

Torrevieja based Jana Stañkova said: "I am very sorry to report after taking a walk in the Crónicas Naturales park in Torrevieja, La Mata Natural Park, I found a baby dead fox."

Despite prohibited notices, that dogs must be on a lead in the park, Jana said: "There are notices, saying you cannot take loose dogs - it is a protected park -

and there are many animals that are breeding.

"I see a lot of owners with their pets, taking the heartless dogs, when I tell them 'please that they take them on leashes only'.

"There are some that answer back to

Firefighters rescue Eagle Owl in Pilar

The Alicante Provincial Council Firefighters have rescued an eagle owl specimen in the municipality of Pilar de la Horadada, bringing the total number rescued so far this year to

me: 'my dog does nothing' - until that happens (a kill)."

Jana added: "I have two greyhounds, but always take them with a lead, because I know that they are hunters. "They carry it in their blood - so please take your pets with heart please."

three.

The bird of prey was inside a water storage facility about 6 metres deep, so the Torrevieja Park firefighters had to climb down the walls of the water tank by using ropes.

The eagle owl was transferred to the Alicante Wild Fauna Recovery Centre, where it is recovering from the accident.

QUICKIE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ANSWERS Week 984

QUICK QUICK

ACROSS: ACROSS: 1

Inconclusive; 7 Fight; 8 Anger; 9 Lie; 10 Travelled; 11 Indian; 12 Dental; 15 Incessant; 17 Tic; 18 Llama; 19 Image; 21 Imperfection.

DOWN: DOWN: 1 Intelligible; 2 Nag; 3 Lethal; 4

Statement; 5 Vigil; 6

Predilection; 7 Field; 10

Translate; 13 Title; 14

Tariff; 16 Chasm; 20 Arc.

CRYPTIC YPTIC

ACROSS: ACROSS: 1

Preservation; 7 Order; 8

ACROSS ACROSS

1.Leave (6)

4.Bog (6)

9.Warily (13)

10.Bared (7) 11.Embellish (5) 12.Form (5) 14.Demon (5) 18.Go in (5) 19.Release (7) 21.Imprisonment (13) 22.Holds up (6) 23.If not (6)

CAN YOU MASTER THE SUDOKU CHALLENGE?

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Solution on Page 22

1.Determine (6)

2.In brackets (13)

3.Circular (5)

5.Daunt (7)

6.Official (13)

7.Dictum (6)

8.Apart (5)

13.Depict (7)

15.Following (6)

16.Odd (5)

17.Gratitude (6)

20.Memorise (5)

Raise; 9 Mar; 10 Sweetmeat; 11 Unsaid; 12 Abuser; 15 Armistice; 17 Air; 18 Omaha; 19 Issue; 21 Shoe repairer.

DOWN: 1 Perambulator; 2 End; 3 Varlet; 4 Turntable; 5 Opine; 6 Letter-writer; 7 Ogres; 10 Shipshape; 13 Slate; 14 Divine; 16 Meath; 20 Sea.

1.Two pig stealers will get beaten! (3-3)

4.Makes an outline of a game, we hear (6)

9.Thought I'd no reactions when disturbed (13)

10.Serious enough to resent a change (7)

11.Did it flow divinely from the choir? (5)

12.Two prepare to take the strain (5)

14.Diplomatic representative in a maiden voyage (5)

18.Atopless specimen is quite enough (5)

19.The devil of a match (7)

21.Adevice that has some current attraction (13)

22.Insist upon a lock being put back (6)

23.Although he keeps going, he remains where he is (6)

DOWN DOWN

1.Diplomacy, we hear, took a devious course (6)

2.Youthful soothsayers, biblically speaking (5,8)

3.Girl involving one in love entanglement (5)

5.Make a new adjustment for the back row, by the sound of it (7)

6.An imaginative air-trip? (6,2,5)

7.Dispatched with railway guard (6)

8.Before the end of the day, the trial will make you irritable (5)

13.Somehow trace an alternative producer ... (7)

15.... indispensable for one who is filming (6)

16.This craft will upset the lotteries (5)

17.As a culinary device, it causes some friction (6)

20.Land-line shown on the map (5)

LEADER TRIVIA QUIZ (Answers on page 22)

1. Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong took two small pieces of which 1903 invention with him to the moon?

2. Which two songs on the Beatles "Let It Be" album are less than one minute in length?

3. Built in 1897, Nelson Rd. Stadium is home to which fictional London football club?

4. Name the five surnames that have been shared by ten US Presidents.

5. A European capital and Wellington's horse at Waterloo.

6. The sequence of events in which famous 1952 Hollywood western take place in so called 'real time'?

7. The Common chimpanzee is the name given to one of the two species of chimps. What is the other species of chimpanzee called?

8. Which part of J R R Tolkien's Middle-Earth is mentioned in the Led Zeppelin song Ramble On?

9. Lambic beer is a traditional brew from which country?

10. Who was the lead guitarist for The Spiders From Mars?

11. Which cocktail combining Scotch whisky and Amaretto is named after an Oscar winning film for Best Picture?

12. In which war did approximately 10,000 men die in the deadliest non-nuclear man-made explosion in history? (aerial bombing is not a part of this category)

13. Which of the modern man made wonders of the world did French painter Paul Gauguin help build?

14. "A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere" was one of the movie poster tag lines to which 1996 black comedy?

15. What are the four most populated cities in the USA that end with the letter o?

16. Which famous film festival is held each year in Utah?

17. What was the name of the ferry that sank in the Baltic Sea on September 28, 1994 with the loss of 852 passengers and crew?

18. Which media baron who lives in an unfinished mansion named Xanadu is found in Forbes list of the 15 richest fictional characters?

19. What is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil?

20. Who is

a. the youngest French Open Men's Singles Champion

b. the oldest French Open Men's Singles Champion?

ACROSS ACROSS

HIGH RISE

BENIDORM is now the third city in the number of tall buildings in Europe and today it has the tallest skyscraper in Spain.

LORCA TO BECOME THE CAPITAL OF JEWISH CULTURE IN SEPTEMBER

Under the concept "Memory", throughout the month of September,Lorca will be offering events for all audiences in venues such as the Synagogue,the Jewish Quarter,the Archaeological Museum,the Medieval Museum and the Castle Stables,as well as typical Sephardic gastronomy,historical recreations,guided,dramatised and streaming tours.

SIXTY YEARS OF BENIDORM From a coastal municipality to a city of skyscrapers

Most towns in recent decades have undergone a major urban transformation.

A good example of this is Benidorm, which has gone from being just small another coastal town to sporting a silhouette full of skyscrapers, which have developed tourism its main economic engine.

It is now the third city in the number of tall buildings in Europe. Thanks to the General Urban Plan, in 1956, Benidorm was able to build high and to reach for the skies, and today it has the tallest skyscraper in Spain.

Following behind London and Milan, it is in the top three in the concentration of tall buildings, and behind Barcelona and Madrid in the total number of skyscrapers in Spain. This also places it amongst the top cities with the highest number of skyscrapers in the world, with seven

of the 20 tallest buildings in Spain.

At number one in the ranking is the Intempo building, which is 202 metres high, has 49 floors and is number 5 in the national ranking. One of the peculiarities of this building is that it is only for residential use.

The Intempo is followed by the Gran Hotel Bali, located in La Cala de Benidorm, of 186 metres and 52 floors, opened on May 17, 2002, thus becoming the tallest hotel in Europe.

The bronze medal goes to Torre Lúgano. This is a building that is 158 metres high with a total of 43 floors for residential use. This building is the tenth tallest in Spain and houses 204 homes. It is the second tallest active residential building in Spain.

Another of the tallest buildings in Benidorm is the Neguri Gane, reaching up 148 metres and 43 floors. The most outstanding characteristic of this building is

its rounded shapes, as a cylindrical base plan was used in its construction.

There is also the Kronos building, 140 metres high and with 41 floors, located in the Levante beach area, at the entrance to Benidorm.

Another emblematic and monumental building is the Don Jorge building, which is 124 metres high and has 36 floors. It is located in the Rincón de Loix area, near the Torre Lúgano and the next skyscraper, the Mirador del Mediterráneo.

Finally, the seventh tallest skyscraper in Benidorm, and the 20th in Spain, is the Mirador del Mediterráneo, with 123 metres and 35 floors. This monumental building is made up of 2 towers joined in a common core from the foundations to the seventh floor.

The Councilor for Culture,Santiago Parra,made the announcement of the 24th edition of the "European Days of Jewish Culture at the Archaeological Museum last week. An annual event that is arranged by the Lorca department of tourism, where the historical,environmental, artistic and cultural heritage of Lorca is revealed.It is a legacy of the Jewish communities that inhabited it long ago.

The municipality,which has been part of the Red de Juderías de España network since 2019,celebrates the event in conjunction with the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage,and with the aim of highlighting the diversity,richness and historical importance of

Judaism.

Like each edition,this year presents a common theme for all countries,and in 2023 the event is dedicated to the concept of "Memory"; the key,collective and individual,that has maintained and promoted the history of Jewish culture throughout the centuries.

The program covers the entire month of September with a complete and very diverse range of events,appointments and representations,which will take place in incomparable settings in the municipality: the Synagogue,the Jewish Quarter,the Archaeological Museum,the Medieval Museum,the Castle Stables.

These will be some of the key venues for this exceptional event.Also added is gastronomy with a Sephardic flavor,presentations of literary works, historical recreations,guided,dramatised and streaming tours .

All the details about the activities and the schedules can be found at lorcatallerdeltiempo.es,lorcaturismo.es, and in the Agenda of redjuderias.org.

To enjoy them to the fullest,the organization insists that it is essential for visitors to make a prior reservation.

This is an annual event that is arranged by the Lorca department of tourism

The Church of JESUS CHRISTof Latter-Day Saints in Torrevieja meet at 10.00 each Sunday in their chapel at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia, 104. All Welcome. Phone or whatsapp the missionaries on 659 016 733

Join us at the SALTCHURCH Sundays at 10.30 am. We are a friendly church, bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship. Meets at Calle Daya Nueva 12, PolÌgono Ind. Levante 11, 03187 Los Montesinos. We look forward to meeting you. www.Saltchurchspain.

Facebook SaltChurchSpain

International Christian Assembly, Calle Beniajan 14, Torrevieja -Evangelical Church. Sunday Service 11

a.m.; - Contact 966 799 273 / 660 127 276. Evangelical non-denominational church. www.icatorrevieja.org

The Car of the Month at AUTOMOVILES CRESPO is a very attractive 2019 Ford Ecosport ST-Line Petrol which is priced at just 17,900 euro.

Come along to our large showroom in Elche and see our vast range of new and used cars or call 96 666 22 60 for all our latest offers. See page7. We can assure you of the biggest and best choice of new and used cars in the area for price, choice and quality.

ENGLISH SPOKEN

Los Alc·zares Digital Camera Club. Interested in photography? We invite you to come and join us at our twice monthly meetings. Please contact coordinatorladcc@ gmail.com or see http://www.los-alcazarescamera.club/ for details.

COMMUNITYCARE ASSOCIATION (CCA) Open to residents of Orihuela Costa over 60 years of age. Located at the Centro Civico Alameda del Mar. Open 3 times a week for a programme of English speaking activities, support, information and advice with the support of Orihuela Council. Anyone wanting to join CCAsocial activities can pop along.

Open 2pm -6pm Mondays and Thursdays, Wednesday 2pm - 5pm. You can register between 1pm & 2pm on those days, in the Cafe area where you will find Eva or Norah. email:

communitycare@gmail.com

RAGS CLUB (previously Friendship Centre). Every Tuesday Lunchtime, From a Bun to a Banquet. At Graceys - upstairs La Zenia park in Lidl Carpark. COME AND PLAYRUMMIKUB.

Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur is here to help you with problem solving and well being for the over 50ís. We need volunteer Drivers and people to join our Home Visiting Team to visit a Residential Home, and take them out for a coffee. Call into our centre at C/Paganini s/n, Urb. La Siesta 03184 Torrevieja or ring 966 786 887. Or email: costablanca@ageconcern.org.es

Royal Naval Association, Torrevieja Branch now meets on the first Wednesday of the

month at 5pm at the Lakeview bar/restaurant, Quesada. For more info contact Chairman Tony Jenkins on +44 7576 117 222, Secretary Steve Hemingfield 0n Mob/Whats 711 011 373 The RAFACosta Blanca RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the RAFAand the RMG is via the RAFA website rafa.org.uk.

Business Opportunity: LOOKING FOR Silent Business Partner for small Private Care Home. Invest 10K and get 20K back in 14 months. 747 438 225 (4)

Law Services: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, Solicitor, Debt Collections, Bad Tenants. 747 438 225 (4)

FREE

CLASSIFIED ADS

If you have items that are WANTED or FOR SALE, ANNOUNCEMENTS, NOTICES and suchlike, advertise them, to a maximum of 35 words, FREE OF CHARGE, on this page.

SEND BY EMAIL TO: office@theleader.info

Covid - Playing ‘Russian Roulette’with what we’ve already had!

Quote: 'Dad had the Covid injection, because of Crohns, he caught endocarditis - parasite in a heart valve - spending 3 months in hospital. He wishes he never had it'.

A NEW study found that even mild cases of Covid can lead to changes in your arteries - causing an increased chance of heart attacks and strokes.

Ray Adderley,who suffers from Long Covid,said hasn't been the same,getting tired and suffering sense of smell and taste.

Manchester born Ray has a resting heart rate,going from 59,before Covid,to 71 after Covid.

"It doesn't fluctuate much from 71,in spite of me doing two,10km a week on the treadmill,and 4 miles walking the dogs everyday,up hill and down dale," said Ray.

Speaking in Part 2 of a Leader Exclusive,Ray added: "I'm pretty lucky though,my pal Tony had a year off work,his hair turned from brown to grey in that time,and he's in and out of hospital with chest problems."

In a study,published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine,said in the months after a Covid infection, the patient’s arteries increasingly stiffen and can be more 'dysfunctional'.

"This is a problem,because stiffer artery walls force the heart to work harder to get blood round the body, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure and a higher chance of heart attacks and strokes," said Co-author of the international study,Dr Maria Perissiou from the University of Portsmouth.

“We were surprised to observe such a decline in vascular health,which deteriorated even further with time since COVID-19 infection.

"Usually,you’d expect inflammation to decrease with time after infection,and for all the physiological functions to go back to normal or a healthy level.

“We can only speculate on what causes this phenomenon without further investigation,but emerging evidence suggests that it stems from COVID-19 triggering the auto-immune process that leads to vasculature deterioration," she said.

It isn’t known if the effects are permanent,or just long-lasting,as the study covered the months after an infection.

Professor Ana Jeroncic from the University of Split, who also led the study,said: “Given the number of people infected with COVID-19 worldwide,the fact that infection can have harmful effects on cardiovascular health in young people who had a mild form of the disease warrants close monitoring.

"The question remains as to whether this harmful effect is irreversible or permanent,and if not,for how long it lasts," he said.

Covid has already been shown to be associated with a type of acute heart failure and vascular dysfunction,but this study examined the long-term consequences on vascular health.

In this international study,the group of researchers brought together 32 volunteers who had all had their arterial stiffness measured - before they had Covid. They tested their arteries,following the infection,to allow comparison,and made the shocking discovery. This comes as a new Covid subvariant,XBB.1.16, known as Arcturus,has been spreading across the world,amid concerns it could be more transmissible than past variants.

Covid/Crohns

Ray said his father was also affected: "My dad had the Covid injection,because of his crohns,and off the back of the injection he caught endocarditis (parasite in a heart valve) and spent three months in hospital.

"The rub is this - the cases of endocarditis rocketed after the injection.Something he now wishes he never had.He's 73,but he's lost nearly all his strength and is constantly tired."

Arcturus is believed to have been behind the spike in cases in India,that led to mask laws being reintroduced in places.

us.

In the UK,health chiefs have said that British patients have died with the virus subvariant. Ray said: "It is absolutely ridiculous how this nonsense can still be affecting us,after all this time.

"It is really frustrating,the continuing studies of it will get next to nothing in funding,so there will be no conclusive Data.

"We will all just be playing 'Russian Roulette' with what we've already had!".

Ray Adderley: Ridiculous nonsense still affecting

A PLACE IN THE SUN!

Line up – line up at the gate, and when the whistle blows our six sunbeds laid out beside the pool basking in the sun, all with cushions, will be available to fight over. Not quite the same as Benidorm or the Costa del Sol, but the views across the valley are stunning. Have you heard the story of Mr and Mrs Ida Queue and family, it really is an everyday story of how to get to a beach to fight over sun beds. To achieve that, this mythical family representing those who wish to go to a seaside on holiday, need to spend previous times of the year waiting in line at the supermarket and the petrol pumps, and even chatting to neighbours while waiting for the school to release the young one.

Off they go on the holiday of their choice somewhere in the sun – ah, but first line up to park the car, get in the queue for the flight desk, there is another group of people waiting for coffee – and then a long line that needs to be joined for security, before linking to the end of a line who are anxious to find a tiny cramped seat on the aircraft.

On arrival at their destination, it’s queueing again to get off the plane and then another column for security, before waiting in line to rescue the luggage, and then join a string of people to get on the coach for the hotel where another line of people is waiting to book into their room.

It puzzles me, and while I agree everyone has their own way of living, why, after all that, would you want to get up early to get in a queue for a sun bed. But as I say everyone to his own.

CANCELLED OPERATION

I have written stories concerning transgender before, this is different and frightening. First, I understand trying to follow the trans world is complicated as I am told there are currently 109 trendy groups including furry animals.

Day to day in the UK we see the National Health Service crumbling as doctors and then nurses, or is it the other way round, are going on strike leaving patients, all seven and half million of them, needing care.

I don’t think lack of money is the problem, as the organisation consumes a large chunk of the UK’s income, the change came when there were no Matrons running their own departments, instead businessmen/women treating health care as a conglomerate.

I think there is more to it than that and as I have said before in this column – ‘morale’ is important among the staff – certainly, in my

PERCY’S RAMBLINGS

HORADADA’S NEWVIDEO INTERPRETATION SERVICE FOR DEAFTOURISTS

In Pilar de la Horadada, inclusion and accessible tourism are fundamental pillars of tourism and in an effort to improve facilities for the deaf, the Councilor for Tourism, Eva MartÌnez, has launched a video interpretation service promoted by Turisme Comunitat Valenciana in collaboration with the Federation of Deaf People of the Valencian Community (Fesord C.V).

opinion the ‘woke’ attitude that has swept through the organisation in the last half a dozen years or more, is part of, if not all, of the problem.

Without happy and contented operatives who are pleased to be working in an environment they are familiar with and understand, no organisation can survive or work efficiently. One would think, okay, I am old fashioned and probably not everyone would agree with me, but back to my thinking, a body of people who are dedicated to healing and caring when a person is ill and in need of surgery, they would not question the need to heal, a history that dates back to time itself. However, in my opinion these professionals would have no desire to change the names of body parts and would be sad and depressed at the need to.

In the following event, there was no thought of caring; it was more important for the protection of the woke ideology and a trans person. As the patient in the story said, “I don’t mind calling a person by whatever name they want to use but I draw a line at a man being a female”.

There are similar stories to this but this one is quite different. We are in a private room in the Princess Grace Hospital in London, where Teresa Steele, it is reported a retired solicitor, is with a nurse having preoperative assessments, including intimate swabs. The procedure was to take place two days after this event.

She, that is Teresa, is reported at being surprised when, after a knock, the door opens

and a nurse comes into the room wearing lipstick, which she says was obvious they had just put on, also eye and other makeup, and wearing a blond wig. At first her thought was they had made a mistake on entering the wrong room and then she realised it was a man.

Teresa had made it clear before the process, she only wanted female staff to attend to her, and as a result complained about the trans nurse entering her room asking for assurances that her wishes would be carried out.

It is alleged that, in response, the CEO sent her an email cancelling the operation.

It is also reported the retired solicitor has quoted from the Equality Act that she is right in her thinking, but it did not change her plight as she was in painful discomfort and eventually was rushed to A & E where, to save her life, she was operated on. So, there we have a hospital more interested in the use and protection of the strange woke language perpetrating the medical profession, also protecting the rights of a person who says ‘he is she’ rather than the care of a very ill patient needing lifesaving surgery.

DON’T MENTION THE HEAT

We have a thermometer on a tile and glued to the wall. On September 16th, 2010, we held a garden party to celebrate ten years in Spain. On that day that little measuring device rose to its limit, fifty degrees or one twenty Fahrenheit – in this hot spell it has not made it to forty-one. Just saying - Take care.

www.facebook.com / percy chattey books

The Councillor said, "It has the objective of guaranteeing the best coverage and inclusion of information and reception services for tourists with hearing disabilities who visit the town." Thanks to the collaboration with Fesord, this new resource has now been introduced in various tourist information offices across the Valencian Community.

The service incorporates a sign language video-interpreter figure that provides communication between tourists who need this service and the Tourist Info staff. In this way, information can be better provided about places of interest, events, accommodation, activities and any other query related to tourism in the municipality. It is an innovative approach that combines technology with personalised attention to ensure an equal and enriching experience.

MartÌnez, said that it "represents a significant step towards the elimination of barriers and the promotion of equal opportunities in the tourism sector, we want all tourists to feel welcome and cared for, which demonstrates the commitment of the Pilar de la Horadada Council to continue working towards accessibility and quality services for all visitorsî. The video interpretation service will be available at the Pilar de la Horadada Tourist Info. until December 31 of this year, from Monday to Sunday, uninterrupted from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

WHAT TO DO IF THE GUARDIA CIVIL STOP YOU ON WHAT TO DO IF THE GUARDIA CIVIL STOP YOU ON THE ROAD THE ROAD

may choose to stop you. Sometimes, at these checkpoints, a specific road sign is used, which is a red circle with a black band in the middle. The meaning of this sign is that you must not pass without stopping, unless instructed to pass by the officers.

On the other hand, you may be stopped on the roadside. The Guardia Civil will use flashing red lights if they are behind you to indicate that they want you to stop. They will use white lights if approaching from the front. You must pull your vehicle over as soon as possible, but in a safe and legal place.

Once stopped, switch off the engine, turn on the interior light if you are stopped at night, and make sure that your hands are visible. Do not panic though, just follow the procedure and the instructions of the officers.

may ask you to exit the vehicle. If they do, be alert of the traffic around you and act accordingly.

The officers are legally permitted to search your vehicle, if they choose to, looking for illegal items. Do not prevent this search, if the officers deem it necessary. Often, particularly at checkpoints, the officers are looking for specific items.

Once the officer has dealt with the reason for stopping you, which could have just been a routine document check, or could have been because of an infraction, for example, they will most likely allow you to proceed, unless they feel it appropriate to confiscate or impound the vehicle. This is not common in the case of simple stops.

When out and about in your vehicle, it is possible that you will come across a police or Guardia Civil patrol, whether routinely moving through their area, or at a checkpoint, and it is quite possible that we may get stopped for a variety of reasons, so it is important we know how to

act.

We are talking specifically about the actions of the Guardia Civil, but similar will apply with other security bodies.

If you are approaching a checkpoint, you must obey the instructions of the officers. They may well wave you through, or they

The officer will most likely approach your vehicle on the passenger side, the safest side from the traffic flow, and so you should open the passenger window. The officer will explain the reason for stopping you, and will then most likely ask for your documents, which you must present. Again, follow the instructions and requests of the officer, who

The officers will assist you and guide you back into the flow of traffic, so, again, follow their instructions, as they may stop the main carriageway to allow you to join safely.

Above all, in these circumstances, do not panic, stay calm, listen to and comply with the instructions of the officers, and you will be on your way as soon as possible.

TH E B O U F E R R E R

C O S T A B L A N C A ’ S G R E A T E S T

U N D E R W A T E R T R E A S U R E

The Bou Ferrer is a submerged Roman ship can be found at a depth of 25 metres that sank about a kilometre from the shoreline of La Vila Joiosa, and which dates back to the first century A.D. The boat was on the Cádiz - Rome route and on its last trip it was loaded with more than 3,000 amphoras containing fish sauce, together with lead ingots from Sierra Morena

The ship was probably on its way from southern Spain to Italy when it was hit by a squall, but as it tried to find shelter on the shore, it sank before it could reach shelter.

The wreck of the Bou Ferrer is a ship whose naval structure has no similarities to any other and the fact that there isn’t any other ship from that era to be found at a depth that allows it to be studied, makes it one of the most exceptional cases of sunken ships in Spain.

made of spices and fish, from the Roman city of Bética.

Underwater excavations have revealed that it is a large and ancient commercial ship of approximately 30 metres in length and 9 metres in beam that was carrying a load of more than 230 tons, which makes the Bou Ferrer the largest ancient wreck of its kind that It is currently in the process of excavation.

The visits to the underwater archaeological site are unique, as they offer divers the chance to observe the works of an archaeological site on the largest shipwreck of a Roman ship in the Mediterranean, dated between AD 64 and 68.

Bou Ferrer's main cargo was 3,000 handmade amphoras from the Puerto Real de Cádiz and pure lead ingots that were to be used to rebuild the water pipes in Rome after the burning of the city in AD 64. Each amphora carried about 40 litres of "garum", a sauce

The amphoras, situated in the vessel’s hold, were protected by grapevine canes (due to the voyage being difficult and the need for the merchandise to arrive in good condition). Similarly, on both sides of the false keel (a section of the ship that serves to strengthen the keel and stabilise the ship) they found 12 ingots, each one weighing 64 kilos (exceptional size) minted with the symbol of the JulioClaudia dynasty (formed by the first five related emperors to Julius Caesar: Augusto, Tiberio, Calígula and Nero) so, the wreck is dated in the 1st century A.D. and specifically attributed to the era of Nero due to the dating of the amphorae and other relics. According to researchers, the ship set sail from a port in or around the Cadiz area, in the direction of Rome or Narbonne (a then Roman colony). They say, that close to the Balearic Islands, the ship ran into difficulties and during a salvage attempt, the ship maneuvered towards the coast, but was unable to reach it and sank just a few metres from the coastline, becoming sumberged in the waters of Villajoyosa where is has laid for around 2000 years.

Since 2017, it has been part of the new UNESCO Reg ister of Best Practices for Submerged Cultural Heritage, for being an example of protection, research and dissemination. During the excavation campaigns, guided tours for sport diving are offered, always accompanied by project technicians.

A model on display at Vilamueso

Onboard the wreck of the Bou Ferrer

SPAIN’S PAU GASOL INDUCTED INTO THE NBA HALL OF FAME

On Saturday,Pau Gasol became the first Spanish basketball player to be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame,joining former Spanish coaches Pedro Ferrándiz and Antonio Díaz-Miguel

During his acceptance speech,Gasol said that it was " an enormous honour and a testament to the support,guidance and inspiration that many have given me during my basketball journey".

The double NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers also pointed out that it is "a true honour" to share his 2023 promotion to the Hall of Fame with other basketball stars such as Dirk Nowitzki,Tony Parker,Dwyane Wade, Becky Hammon and Gregg Popovich.

Gasol,was visibly moved by the tribute,and was particularly delighted to have the European basketball legend Toni Kukoc as a presenter.

“If they told me that one day I would not only meet Kukoc, but that I would also be inducted into the Hall of Fame,I would not have believed it.And yet here we are,” he joked.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was scheduled to be his other presenter,but Gasol said that the legendary Lakers player could not attend the ceremony in Springfield (Massachussets, USA) because he was unwell.

Gasol,who was the first European player to be chosen NBA rookie of the year,has thanked the Memphis Grizzlies for giving him "the opportunity" to play in the NBA and

RADIOLOGY EQUIPMENT TO BE REPLACED

fulfill his dream.But,he has stressed that the transfer to the Lakers in 2008 marked a before and after: "It changed my life and my career."

Gasol has thus joined the coaches Pedro Ferrándiz and Antonio Díaz-Miguel as the only Spanish representatives in the Hall of Fame.

This tribute to Gasol comes just five months after the Lakers retired his No.16 jersey.

A six-time NBA All-Star,Gasol,43,also left an indelible mark on the Spanish team,with which he won the 2006 World Cup,the Eurobaskets in 2009,2011 and 2015,as well as three Olympic medals (silver in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and bronze in Rio 2016).

QUIGO TO INTRODUCE HIGH SPEED TRAVEL TO MADRID FROM 9 EURO

The Torrevieja Health Department has put out to tender a contract for the supply and installation of five workstations, three for Digital Radiology and two for Mammography, for the Radiology Unit of the Torrevieja Health Department, for an amount of 56,000 euro.

The contract will renew current equipment, including diagnostic workstations that have reached their end of cycle and require an essential renovation so that the professional work is effective".

The department also points out the importance of these teams,

since currently the treatment of patients from all specialties is largely based on diagnostic imaging studies, which is why the number of examinations in diagnostic imaging services has grown, turning workstations into essential tools in the work of healthcare personnel.

The specifications list the technical details. In addition, the contract establishes the maintenance service, which details that the maximum replacement time for a damaged monitor or any workstation component, during the guarantee period, will be 48 hours, from the notification of the incident.

Companies have until August 24 to submit their offers.

Once the contract has been awarded, the execution period for the installation of these five radiology units is two months.

In June, the hospital took delivery of new state-of-the-art magnetic resonance equipment that the Ministry of Universal Health and Public Health acquired through the Investment Plan in High Technology Equipment of the National Health System (INVEAT). The new equipment, valued at more than 790,000 euro, was scheduled to see its first patients in July.

The low-cost high-speed train company,Ouigo,will offer trips between Elche and Madrid from May of next year.

Spanish railway infrastructure manager,Adif,has now authorised the French company and its expansion plans to provide service on the Madrid-ElcheMurcia line from 2024 and the scheduled date is during the month of May.

Ouigo will now begin the tests of it’s trains on the new lines.

To do this,it plans to offer more than 14,000 weekly spaces with two frequencies a day (two 'round trips',to be exact) between Madrid and Elche in 2 hours and 20 minutes,without going through Alicante,according to the general director of Ouigo in Spain,HОlПne Valenzuela.

Tickets will be priced at 5 euro for children under 14 years of age (free for children under 3 years of age) and from 9 euro for adults.These plans now have provisional permission from Adif.Regarding the links with Elche and Murcia,Valenzuela already asserted that they were technically "affordable", and that she believed that the market was going to "work".

The company has also requested to operate on the Segovia-Valladolid line, although it is awaiting Adif's decision.

In June, the hospital took delivery of new state-of-the-art magnetic resonance equipment

Above, Gasol’s acceptance speech and below, representing Spain in an Exhibition Match against the USA

THADER LOSE HEAVILY AS REBUILDING CONTINUES FOR NEW SEASON

The gulf in class was apparent last Saturday evening, when Thader learnt a lesson in clinical finishing from a side one division above them.

Straight from the offset, the visitors were attacking at will, so much so, that inside the first 20 mins they could easily had been 3 goals to the good.

CD Thader ...........1 Elche Ilicitano.......5

Javi did ease the pressure on 18 mins, but his firmly hit effort from the edge of the box, was straight down the keepers throat.

Halfway through the 1st half, Garvin picked up a loose ball, before slotting it past Chema, to give Elche the lead.

Then on the half hour mark, Gallego beat the offside trap, before stroking the ball into an empty Thader net. Diez should have reduced the deficit 5 mins later, but when presented with a glorious opportunity, his lack of composure was responsible for a half hearted effort.

With time running out, Chema produced a brilliant acrobatic save to keep the score down. But, there was still time for Pedro Juan to convert a spot kick, following Javi unceremoniously being brought down in the visitors penalty area.

A new set of players for Elche, maintained the same level of pressure from those in the

1st half. It was virtually one way traffic from the kick off, and the only surprise was that it took them until 75 mins before they added a 3rd goal.

Ten mins later, one of the many Elche subs executed an audacious chip come shot from fully 30 yards out, close to the touchline, which looped over Chema into the net.

Another well worked move on 85 mins, resulted in goal no 5 for Elche, and although Thader came close with a headed effort just off target, the scoreline didn't flatter a hard working youthful Elche side.

On Weds 23 Aug, ko 8.45, Thader play host to Preferente division side Benferri, in another friendly match at Moi Gomez stadium. It is advised to check CD Thader facebook page, as ko times can change at short notice.

Valencian Bowls Championships

The 2023 Valencian Lawn Bowls Championships, once again sponsored by Linea Diecta, will be held from 13 to 26 September.

The primary venue will be the Emerald Isle Bowls Club, which will host all the games from the quarter finals onwards, as well as the preliminary rounds, which will be shared with Country Bowls.

RACING ADD TO SQUAD FOR 23/24

Former CFP Orihuela Deportivo

star

Richard Hernandez has signed a new contract with Racing San Miguel for the 202324 campaign. He has been joined by Local star goalkeeper Ivan Espinosa Perez and DARIO Alcaraz Hernandez 'Chispas' - Sparks Defender Hernandez arrived at Racing last season, after having played for CFP Orihuela Deportiva, Guardamar, Atlético Orihuela and Rafal.

"The Racing board is confident Richard will bring his strength on the pitch to the team,

complimenting the red and blue defence, as he has done so far," said a club spokesperson.

Meanwhile manager Sánchez has retained the Local star goalkeeper Ivan Espinosa Perez for the 2023-24 season.

"Iván will be part of Racing's senior squad for a second season. His reflexes and saves have become his trademark, after a life defending the goals of Montesico Blanco in lower categories.

third addition is DARIO

Hernandez 'Chispas' - Sparks – who has also renewed his contract at Racing San Miguel for the coming season.

“This will be his third season as a Rojiazul," said a club spokesperson. Last year he could not play, due to work commitments: "This

QUIZ FROM PAGE 14:

1.The Wright Flyer, 2.Maggie May and Dig It, 3.AFC Richmond (featured in the Apple TV+ show, Ted Lasso), 4.Adams, Johnson, Harrison, Roosevelt, Bush, 5. Copenhagen, 6.High Noon, 7.Bonobo, 8. Mordor ("T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair"), 9.Belgium, 10.Mick Ronson, 11.Godfather, 12.The Great War / WWI (19 ammonal mines were detonated under the German lines on June 7, 1917 during the Battle of Messines), 13.The Panama Canal, where he worked as a labourer, cutting stone. 14.Fargo, 15.Chicago, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, 16.The Sundance Film Festival, 17.MS Estonia, 852 (out of 989) lives stated at the time as officially lost but subsequent passenger list analysis suggest a likely higher figure, 18. Charles Foster Kane, 19.Cachaca (also known as caninha, pinga, aquardente), 20.a.Michael Chang (17), b.Novak Djokovic (36)

season he is keen to make up for it - and show what he is capable of. "From the board of directors we celebrate being able to count on such a committed and high-level player. We are convinced he will add a great deal to our squad," said RSM President Chemo Valero.

SUDUK SUDUK O SOLUTION O SOLUTION

The

Alcaraz

From the left: Richard Hernandez, ‘Sparks’ and Ivan Espinosa Perez