edition 16

FREEEvery 2 weeks, Edition 16, 12th Feb - 25th Feb 2010

The Canary Islands’ most successful FREE Newspaper

THE

NEWSCanary

The New Carnival Queen

AS PREVIOUSLY reported Carnival is the biggest and most important celebration for all Canarians; it is a time of partying and excess which ends up being cleansed by the fire of the Burning of the Sardine. But one night stands out above all else and that is the night of the election of the Carnival Queen.

On the 5th February the Parque Santa Catalina hosted its 35th edition and a total of nine candidates presented their dream-like interpretations (fantasies) to well over 4000 lucky spectators.

As I found out, it is extremely hard to get a ticket to see this wonderful gala. But as our readers may know by now, I am not one to give up easily. After many phone calls I finally managed to contact a Council member who told me that I must have a special permit issued only by themselves. So on the morning of the

gala and armed with my last copy of The Canary News I drove like one possessed to Las Palmas to meet with the officials. As I explained in Spanish who I was and who I worked, for they took a quick look at The Canary News, were suitably impressed and promptly issued me with my special press pass.

Many of the would be spectators actually camped outside the ticket sale point for many hours before it opened, in order to buy these much coveted tickets. This year the Ayuntamiento of Las Palmas also provided a telephone hot line and a website address to purchase the tickets but within the hour every single one was sold.

The same situation occurred for the Drag Queen gala. I must say that after seeing the show live, I am not surprised about this fact as it is worth every penny!

As you all know this years’ theme for the Carnival is dedicated to Television, and the organisers of the Carnival Queen Gala set up a fantastic show which took us through some of the historic moments of Spanish and World television. The show continued with the presentation of the nine candidates for this years’ Carnival Queen, who paraded their impressive dresses or ‘fantasies’ as they are known, of up to 4 meters high, several meters wide and weighing well over 100 kilograms. These dresses are so voluminous that the candidates have to go through a tough physical workout regime months before the Gala. The materials used are numerous giving these costumes a vast range of colours and textures, and they are also provide with small wheels in order to facilitate the movement of each candidate around the massive stage in Santa Catalina park.Story continues on pages 16-17.....

2 The Canary News - Friday 12th - Thursday 25th February 2010 - Issue 16 www.thecanarynews.com

Island Information

Agüimes In front of the municipal swimming poolThursdays 09:00-14:00Arguineguín La Plaza Negra: Every Tuesday 08:00-14:00CC Ancora Every Thursday 08.00-14.00TARA Second Hand Market, Plaza de Pino Seco, ArguinegínEvery Saturday 9.00 onwardsArucas Calle Francisco Gourier: Every Saturday 08:00-14:00Gáldar General MarketPlaza de Santiago de Apostól: Every Thursday 08:00-14:00.Gáldar Collectors’ MarketGuaires, 26, Tel: 928.55.21.40IngenioEn el Ejido: First Sunday of every month 09.00-15.00Jinámar Ramblas de Jinámar (Telde): Sundays 9:00-15:00 Las Palmas RastroTerrace on top of the bus stationEvery Sunday 8.00-14.00Maspalomas Second Hand MarketCC Faro 2, Campo Internacional, MaspalomasSaturdays and Sundays 10.00 onwardsMaspalomas Artisans’ MarketNext to Global Bus StationMelonerasMercadillo en Meloneras: Every Thursday 10.00-17.00MendizábalCalle de Mendizábal, Vegueta, Las PalmasThird Saturday of every monthMoyaOn top of the bus station: Every Sunday 08:00-14:00Playa del Inglés Artesan market, at Parque Europeo, (next to the Minitren)Everyday except Sunday 19.30-23.30.Puerto de MogánTraditional craft marketPlaza del Parking, Puerto de Mogán: Every Monday 09.00-14.30Puerto de Mogán General MarketEl Muelle Deportivo: Every Friday 08:00-14:00 San FernandoSan Fernando Municipal Market, Maspalomas.Every Wednesday and Saturday: 08:00-14:00 San Fernando Municipal MarketSkating ring in San FernandoEvery second Sunday 09:00-14:00San Mateo Every Saturday: 08:00-20:00 and Sundays 08:00-15:00.Santa BrígidaUnderneath the municipal park in Villa de Santa Brígida.Every Saturday 08:00-20:00 and every Sunday from 08:00-14:00Santa Catalina Mercadillo in Las Palmas de G.C.Art Gallery of Parque de Santa Catalina Every Sunday between 08.00-14.00.

Santa LuciaMercadillo de Santa Lucia: Every Sunday 8.00-14.00Santa María de GuíaPlaza del Casco HistoricoEvery Tuesday and Sunday 10.00-14.00TeldePlaza de San Gregorio, by the bus stationEvery Saturday 08:00-14:00Teror Around the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del PinoEvery Sunday 08:00-14:00VallesecoMercado Municipal : Every Sunday 08.00-14.00Valsequillo Calle Isla de la Gomera : Every Sunday 08:00-14:00Vecindario Agricultural MarketRecinto FerialEvery Monday 08:00-14:00 onLa Karpa, Avda. de las TirajanasEvery second Saturday 08.00-14.00Vecindario General MarketRecinto FerialEvery Wednesday 08.00-14.00Vegueta, Cultural and Craftsmanship marketPlaza del Pilar Nuevo, Las Palmas de G.C.Every Sunday of every month(except July, August and Sept.) 10.00-14.00.

Emergency and Useful telephone numbers in Gran Canaria

Markets in Gran Canaria

Las Palmas Airport:

928 579 000

Emergency Line: 112

Police, Fire Brigade and

Ambulance:

928 492 112

Fire Brigade

Las Palmas 928 446 444

Maspalomas 928 762 671

Playa del Inglés,

San Agustín, San Bartolomé de

Tirajana 928 762 671

Local Police

Province - 092


Maspalomas 928 764 000

Guardia Civil

Province 062


Puerto Rico 928 736 817

S. Bartolomé 928 750 222

National Police

Las Palmas

Masapalomas 928 764 000

Sea Rescue

900 202 202 & 928 467 757

Consulates:

British Consulate

Consul: Matthew Vickers

Edificio_Cataluna,_C/Luis

Morote 6, 3rd Floor,

Las Palmas

Opening hours:

Mon to Fri 8.30am to 1.30pm

Telephone 928 262 508

www.ukinspain.com

Irish Consulate:

195, Leon y Castillo, Las Palmas

Telephone 928 297 728

Austria - 928 782 500

Belgium - 928 461 718

Denmark - 928 264 764

Finland - 928 224 358

France - 928 292 371

Germany - 928 491 880

Italy - 928 241 911

Luxembourg - 928 243 431

Netherlands - 922 271 721

Norway - 928 495 035

Portugal - 928 233 144

Sweden - 928 260 884

Switzerland - 928 293 450

Taxis: 928 154 77

or 902 192 019

International Directory

Enquires: 025

UK Operator:

900 990044

Lost/Stolen credit cards:

900 974445

Health Centre

Appointments 012

Consumer issues 928 731

908 International Pension Centre

0044 191 21 87777

www.thepensionservice.ov.uk

Bereavement_Benefit

00441912183847

Medical Benefits

0044 191 2181999

(www.dh.gov.uk) HMRC (Tax)

Sol Mobility:

928 735 311

0044 151 210 2222

(www.hmrc.gov.uk)

Age Concern España

902 003 838

(www. acespana.org)

Swimming Safety

Red_flag: No swimming

Yellow_flag:Swim with care Green_

flag:Safe to swim

Sales:[email protected]

Accounts:[email protected]

Production:[email protected]

Editor:[email protected]

Telephone:928 774 818 or 697 724 949

Office opening hours Mon - Fri 9am-6pm

Adverts, copy changes, classifieds, clubs and editorial copy:

Friday noon for the following Friday’s edition to air your views. Letters on any subject are welcomed by the Editor for publication and must arrive by 12 noon on Friday for consideration for the following Friday’s edition. Priority will be given to letters dealing with local issues. We reserve the right to amend or shorten letters.

The Canary News accepts no responsibility for readers´comments.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service you can Call 928 774 818 or write to Rocas Rojas 124b, Calle Los Claveles SL, 35100, San Agustin To get your paper Looking for a copy of your FREE The Canary News then call Brian on 667 994 351 to find out where you can pick up your newspaper

Inside Edition 16

Canary News Contacts

Deadline

Page 13Carnival Events List

Page 14Jet2.com FREE Competition

Page 16 & 17Crowning of the Queens

1Lee Hit the Headlines

The Canary News does not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers, either in advertisements or advertorials, nor can it be held responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or the non appearance of advertisements or advertorials. This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or nonappearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsiblity for claims or opinions in the same. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper without the consent of the publisher is prohibited E & O E. Edita: JDC Canaries SLU, Imprime: Artes Graficas del Atlantico S/A. Deposito Legal GC - 747 2009 C/Los Dragos 19, Zona Ind. Arinaga, Fase IV 35188, Aguimes, Gran Canaria

Distribution PointsWe are always looking to add new Distribution Points to our lists. So if you feel that your business is in the ideal spot to help our readers

find their copy of The Canary News without going too far, then

contact Brian on 667 994 351. Having problems locating a copy of The Canary News? Call Brian

and he can tell you where your nearest point is, or if our existing

points need extra copiesplease phone him.

3www.thecanarynews.com Issue 16 - Friday 12th - Thursday 25th February 2010 - The Canary News

Events

EUROPAi gestion inmobiliariaimmobilienreal estate

Avd. Alemania 10, Playa del Ingles 35100, Gran Canaria

Tel: 928 765 813 Fax: 928 765 800Email: [email protected]

Web: www.europa-immobilien.comOpen: 10:00 - 14:00 hrs. Monday - Friday

17:00 - 20:00 hrs. Monday and Wednesday

SELLING PROPERTIES FOR 24 YEARS !!!

PLAYA DEL INGLÉSTOP FLOOR. Bright, furnished three room apartment with balcony. Central. Quiet. Near Yumbo. Only three minutes walk to the beach. Heated Pool !

Price: 114.000 euros

PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, BEACH PROMENADELuxurious two-bedroom-apartment with large terrace and direct view to the sea and dunes of Maspalomas.Situated in a small, private, quiet complex with heated pool. Unique property !

PRICE: 390.000 euros

PLAYA DEL INGLÉSBeautiful completely renovated and furnished apartment with 54 m² living area. It consists of one bedroom, livingroom with kitchen, bathroom and balcony. Complex with large pools and proper parkinglots. Low community fee !!PRICE: 98.000 euros

PLAYA DEL INGLÉSApartment at the street down to the beach!This furnished apartment consists of: One bedroom, bathroom, livingroom, separate kitchen and balcony. Low monthly community fee. Complex with pool and parkinglots. At 2 minutes walking to the beach !Price: 69.000 euros

PLAYA DEL INGÉS “Las Camelias”Wonderful apartment with seaview, very well situated and quiet. It is a sunny one-bedroom apartment with a large balcony, equipped with all details and completely furnished.Complex with a nice pool and proper parkinglots.PRICE: 120.000 euros

PLAYA DEL INGLÉSCALLE LUNA (Near shopping Centre “La Sandia”) Very bright corner apartment of 70 m2, with 1½ bedrooms. In a private complexof only 12 units with pool and low community fee and easy parking.Located in the best and most quiet area.Price: 165.000 euros

HERE WE give you some of the most relevant dates during which something of general interest is happening on the island. Don’t be afraid to visit these events or even to actively participate in them, most are open to everyone and anyone. When wanting to visit a fiesta, always remember that most activities take part during the morning and then restart from about six pm. We are in Spain and both lunch and siestas are almost religious customs which all Canarians take extremely seriously. Also take into account that the big days will inevitably be during the weekend. Be adventurous and enjoy the Island like one of the natives! Fiestas del Almendro en Flor:

1st till 15th February. Tejeda.Pay Special attention to the 14th and 15th January. Exposition “Welcome to Paradise”:

29th January till 19th February,Photograph Exposition on the Life of African Immigrants who live on the Island.Casa Africa, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 43rd Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Opera Festival

19th,22nd, 25th and 28th February, 20.30 hours.Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Panoramic Photograph Exposition.

Till 26th February, 9 to 13, and 17 to 21 hours.Mapfre Guanarteme, Arucas.

Carnival Exposition.

Till 24th February, 10.00 to 22.00 hours.Real Club Victoria, Las Canteras, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Bodies and Faces of the Carnival, by Izabella Gawin.

18th February till 15th April, 9 to 12.00 hours.German Consulate, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A tribute to the Beatles.

13th February, 00.30 hours.Sale Duke’s, Playa del Ingles. Elvis Show: Performed by Mark Sigournay

13th February, 22.00 hours.Maspalomas Princess, Playa del Ingles14th February, 22.00 hours.Sandy Beach Hotel, Playa del Ingles

General Power Cut:

22nd February at 22.00 hours.Everyone is welcome and should participate against abusive price increases.

FIESTAS ANd UPCOMING EvENTS Local Pick Up Points for The Canary NewsAs we are receiving a number of phone calls asking where readers can get their copy of The Canary News we have decided, space permitting, to publish lists in future editions of your nearest point.

However, we cannot always guarantee that there will be copies left, as our continuing and growing success means that the newspaper is ‘flying off the shelves’.

Don’t forget you can always phone Brian (see information on page 2) if you are having difficulty on a regular basis of obtaining your copy, and he will do his best to accommodate you. Published lists are subject to change.

Las Palmas

Real Club Nautic Cafe GuagaPunta Roma FishobbyJeunes Peliqueria Ginos RestaurantMelia Hotel Cafe SuesiaConcord Hotel Riana Isabella HotelVisante Museum Elda British Consulate Fred Olsen Christian Church Clinica Santa Catalina British Club Hotel Santa Catalina Dr Negro Hospital Euro Muebles Mister Minit Macarthys Irish Bar Main Bus Station Edem Furniture British SchoolMarks & Spencer, Triana Marks & Spencer, Mesa y LopezMarks & Spencer, Las ArenasSanta Catalina Tourist OfficeMesa y Lopez Tourist Office


Local News

Valsequillo Tourism Promotion

Gran Canaria Gets Soaked Again

MANY TIMES I have talked about the endless possibilities the Island of Gran Canaria has to offer its visitors and residents, and we are already world renowned for our beaches and fantastic weather which is with us almost all year round, but we also offer fantastic natural landscape in the interior of the island; friendly agricultural villages with fabulous local products and crafts, and of course a wide range of traditions which can be enjoyed by all.

Valsequillo is one of these places; full of charm, not only due to its location in the middle of the mountains on the Eastern side of the island, but also its hospitable people and its number of traditions and history.

In an attempt to encourage our tourist visitors, the Ayuntamiento of this Municipal has invested in a promotional campaign to encourage them to come and see for themselves. As part of this promotional plan, Valsequillo chose to bring its traditions, cultures and local produce to the south ofGran Canaria, and to be more precise to the tourist centre located in the Yumbo Centre.

The Municipal were given stands to show off their work and to sell their produce, which included both manufactures of traditional food and drink products, such as Mojos, jams, a large variety of honeys, wines and their well known cheese which caused a sensation in the last World Cheese Awards celebrated in Las Palmas.

The exhibition continued with stands dedicated to craftsman who produced traditional objects and artefacts using materials gathered from the Canarian Palm Tree. With these the people of Valsequillo manufacture hats, baskets for all types of uses, tools for the use in

agriculture and in the household as well as many more uses.

Visitors also got the chance to see a pyrotechnic company which is based in this village, show off how they manufacture their fireworks, which are used in the many fiestas that are celebrated throughout the island. Valsequillo is also known around the island for its fiestas, and this exhibition coincided with the celebration of the Almond Blossom Fiestas; a celebration which pays tribute to the almond tree and its fruit which is present in our traditional cookery. But the one fiesta which stands out on our islands has to be “The Release of the Cursed Dog”, which takes place on the 29th September, and on which I reported last year. This peculiar fiesta celebrates the legend of Saint Michael the Archangel and how he returns the Devil to hell after an epic fight between good and evil. As it could not be otherwise the Ayuntamiento of Valsequillo also dedicated an area to this traditional celebration and fiesta.

Personally I thought it was a fantastic attempt to bring the Valsequillo culture and customs closer to foreigners, although I’m not sure they were expecting such a big turnover of visitors as the venue chosen seemed a little cramped at times, causing the flow of visitors to be very slow. Having said this, the exhibitions were very informative with a lot of information on hand, including excellent photographs about the community and what visitors could expect if they visited this special area.

To conclude, I have made many arrangements to go and visit these artisan and local businesses and will report on how they go through their day to day life, but that you will have to read about in future editions.

By Tito Cabral

MANY TIMES I have talked about the endless possibilities the Island of Gran Canaria has to offer its visitors and residents, and we are already world renowned for our beaches and fantastic weather which is with us almost all year round, but we also offer fantastic natural landscape in the interior of the island; friendly agricultural villages with fabulous local products and crafts, and of course a wide range of traditions which can be enjoyed by all.Valsequillo is one of these places; full of charm, not only due to its location in the middle of the mountains on the Eastern side of the island, but also its hospitable people and its number of traditions and history.

In an attempt to encourage our tourist visitors, the Ayuntamiento of this Municipal has invested in a promotional campaign to encourage them to come and see for themselves. As part of this promotional plan, Valsequillo chose to bring its traditions, cultures and local

produce to the south ofGran Canaria, and to be more precise to the tourist centre located in the Yumbo Centre. The Municipal were given stands to show off their work and to sell their produce, which included both manufactures of traditional food and drink products, such as Mojos, jams, a large variety of honeys, wines and their well known cheese which caused a sensation in the last World Cheese Awards celebrated in Las Palmas.

The exhibition continued with stands dedicated to craftsman who produced traditional objects and artefacts using materials gathered from the Canarian Palm Tree. With these the people of Valsequillo manufacture hats, baskets

for all types of uses, tools for the use in agriculture and in the household as well as many more uses.

Visitors also got the chance to see a pyrotechnic company which is based in this village, show off how they manufacture their fireworks, which are used in the many fiestas that are celebrated throughout the island. Valsequillo is also known around the island for its fiestas, and this exhibition coincided with the celebration of the Almond Blossom Fiestas; a celebration which pays tribute to the almond tree and its fruit which is present in our traditional cookery. But the one fiesta which stands out on our islands has to be “The Release of the Cursed Dog”, which takes place on the 29th

September, and on which I reported last year. This peculiar fiesta celebrates the legend of Saint Michael the Archangel and how he returns the Devil to hell after an epic fight between good and evil. As it could not be otherwise the Ayuntamiento of Valsequillo also dedicated an area to this traditional celebration and fiesta.

Personally I thought it was a fantastic attempt to bring the Valsequillo culture and customs closer to foreigners, although I’m not sure they were expecting such a big turnover of visitors as the venue chosen seemed a little cramped at times, causing the flow of visitors to be very slow. Having said this, the exhibitions were very informative with a lot of information on hand, including excellent photographs about the community and what visitors could expect if they visited this special area.

To conclude, I have made many arrangements to go and visit these artisan and local businesses and will report on how they go through their day to day life, but that you will have to read about in future editions.

By Tito Cabral


World Cup Referees to Train in Maspalomas.Between the 1st and 14th of March the 30 referees together with their assistants who were all chosen on 5th February, will be gathering in the south of Gran Canaria. These preparatory seminars which will be organized by FIFA will form the referees for the next World Cup which will be celebrated in South Africa and will join together a total of 10 European representatives, 6 South Africa, 4 CONCACAF (Africa and Asia) and 2 from Oceania.

This has been made possible due to a joint effort by the Las Palmas Inter-insular Federation, Concejelia de Deportes de San Bartolome de Tirajana and FIFA. Owing to the good facilities available in Maspalomas, its’ fantastic weather and the success of previous international events, this gathering has been made possible, giving Maspalomas an opportunity to show FIFA that the south of our island is a sure bet worth considering for the success of future events.

Carla Garcia Crowned Miss Las Palmas.

On Saturday 30th of January, the Hotel Cordial Playa in Mogán hosted the Miss Las Palmas contest to decide who will be representing our island in the next Miss Spain. A total of nineteen candidates from all corners of the island and representing their local areas displayed their beauty and elegance in the magnificent grounds of this hotel. The

Miss Las Palmas title finally went to Carla Garcia who was representing Las Canteras Beach.

Santa Lucia Backs the Ecological Bags Campaign.

The Concejelia of Environment of the Ayuntamiento of Santa Lucia has given away 100 pure recycled cotton bags in an attempt to educate and change the customs of Canarian shoppers. The bags which have printed on them “Recycling has a world of Benefits” are destined to promote the reuse of bags and try to decrease the consumption of plastic and therefore reduce the negative impact these have on our environment.

The Concejal of the Environment, Ofelia Alvarado, has assured us that a total of 15,000 of these bags will be handed out in various places and events throughout the year as well as other items which will help reinforce this campaign. “We would like to make people aware in the Santa Lucia area that every little bit we can do is important for the conservation of our natural resources. With this initiative we would like to limit the consumption of plastic bags and it is important that the people use these bags which are also comfortable and very practical. Whenever we see one of these bags in our streets we will know that that

person is supporting the environment and nature”, as she quite rightly put it. As you all know I’m all for these initiatives and they have my full support!

Canarian Schools Celebrate World Peace Day!Well over four hundred secondary students from several schools in the Municipal of Santa Lucia have participated in several acts in support of World Peace day and Say No to Violence. This extraordinary manifestation took place in the San Rafael Plaza in Vecindario where they sang songs, read poems, and acted out representations in favour of peace. Each educational centre had been preparing their participation for weeks in order to take part in an event which has been celebrated for many years.

The Voice of Youth in Santa Lucia.In an innovative campaign, the Concejeria of Youth of the Ayuntamiento of Santa Lucia has provided a bus which will pass through the main areas and places in the municipality allowing youngsters to write on it what their worries and thoughts are for the future. The campaign under the slogan “I’m Young and they will listen to me” is headed by the Concejal of Youth Miguel Angel Ojeda who states, ”All the information that we collect with this initiative will help us apply better youth politics which will then give better response to the demands of this sector of the population. Without a doubt this information will be extremely helpful to us as it is given directly by them”, he then continues, “We consider that it is necessary to involve these youngsters and make them participants in the programs developed for them. There is nothing better than listening to their demands directly, using an original and innovative method, away from usual surveys which don’t motivate them to participate”.

New Campaign to Catch Snakes!

With the introduction of exotic pets it is almost certain that some specimens escape and colonise their new

environment, and in most cases their new home is not suitable for their survival and usually these pets perish. But this is not the case with the Californian Royal Serpent which was originally detected almost ten years ago and has successfully adapted to their new surroundings causing its population to increase. Over the last three years a group has been formed by the Canarian Government Environmental Department which is dedicated to catching these snakes and eradicate their presence which could cause serious environmental damage. This year’s campaign has been brought forward to February in order to catch the snakes before they lay their eggs during the month of March. The use of fake burrows has proved to being a highly efficient technique in the USA, so this year the Canarian Government has chosen this option and feels confident of their success in eradicating this alien plague.

By Tito Cabral

Local News


Local News

I dON’T normally visit car boot sales, but last week our Distribution Manager, Brian, told me that whilst delivering our newspapers to Kays’ stand at Faro Dos, Playa del Ingles, he noticed a huge increase in stalls and visitors to the market, so last Sunday I decided to see for myself what the interest was.

I arrived at 10.30 and firstly had difficulty in find somewhere to park;

the place was packed with cars. Finally squeezing into a small space nearby, I started walking up and down the three lanes which had every conceivable stall with their goods on display. What immediately struck me was the amount of stalls selling second hand household items and clothing. These stall had crowds milling around them who were bargaining fiercely with the owners. Everywhere you looked you could see plastic shopping bags being held tightly by the shoppers, as they continued to search for even more bargains. Talking to Marie, one of the stall holders, she told me that many people arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning to secure a good pitch – and I do mean early, 4am! She told me that second hand clothes were always very popular

and went quickly, books are snapped up with an average price of 1€. Of course you will always find the ones out to make a ‘fast buck’ like the stall selling tourist souvenirs at higher prices than you can find in the shops.

There was even an organ grinder entertaining the crowd with his ‘old fashioned’ music and dress style. Cars

were on display, furniture, electronic goods and the general bric- a- brac which you would find at a car boot sales back in the UK. I was quite surprised to hear a lot of German speaking people as I didn’t think the Germans really went in for trawling around second hand markets – I thought a race who headed for the beach at the first sign of a hot sunny day.

Well it was an experience and a real eye opener; as the title of the article says, is this a ‘Sign of the Times’ here on Gran Canaria? Have people finally had enough and are selling up their homes and cars to move elsewhere? Who knows.

By Ann Turner

Sign of the Times?

AS PART of the local fiestas celebrated in Valsequillo, the Ayuntamiento holds a special tribute to the almond tree which, at this time of year, starts to blossom all over the island.

The Almond occupies a very special place in the traditions and gastronomy of Gran Canaria and this particular region is especially renowned for its’ wonderful landscape.

Canarian mountains fill with the white colour and scent of this extraordinary flower, and which the people of this rural settlement have seen fit to dedicate its very first fiesta.

As far as Canarian fiestas go, this one

is especially traditional and our local crafts, food and customs are very much in evidence on the numerous stands displayed for all to see and enjoy. The streets of the centre of Valsequillo were lined on both sides with these stalls; all of which were grouped into areas from around the island, giving visitors a chance to sample and purchase food, traditional products, crafts, clothing and even view and enjoy Canarian art examples and indigenous animals.

One thing that did catch my eye is the introduction of new crafts which blend nicely with the older traditions, as more and more Canarians are taking the initiative to manufacture and create new pieces of craft using the traditional images and customs which are part of our character. Both visitors and locals taking part in the fiestas were dressed in the traditional costumes used by the early settlers of the islands.

As well as the displays, the Ayuntamiento arranged workshops for the younger ones, teaching them the games our grandfathers used to play as children using basic materials or even recycling them. Exhibitions showing Canarian sports and games were also organized in an attempt to preserve

them and encourage the younger generations to continue with these traditions. These included Canarian Fighting and Petanca (petanqué) amongst others.

I felt the whole village had really become involved in the success of this fiesta, where the atmosphere was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. These people obviously feel a part

of their fiesta and community which resulted in such a charming event.

I now feel that this particular celebration is a true representation of a Canarian fiesta; full of tradition, pride and friendliness as this is how I felt whilst wandering through the streets of this incredible mountain village.

By Tito Cabral

Almond Blossom Fiesta in valsequillo


Feature

dRIvING ALONG the narrow winding roads, after a great day’s shopping in Puerto Mogan, I felt a sense of tranquillity as I passed by the village of Mogan, heading towards the mountains. Sun beating down on my face I really felt ‘at peace with the world’. Just a short ten minute drive from the seafront, I found myself looking down on what looked like a little oasis, but which was in reality, El Draguillo. As I parked my car in the ample car park, I was astounded to see a wonderful cascade of water gushing out of the mountainside; a real waterfall and yet so close to the shoreline!

Passing through the arched entrance I was greeted by Alexjandro, who kindly asked me if I would like to dine or just take an aperitif in the wonderful outdoor area. I hesitate to call this a terrace, as indeed it was much, much more. Wonderful individual seating areas, complete with marquee-like awnings, gaily coloured scatter cushions and soft inviting sofas and chairs. A small outdoor bar, stage, and barbeque area completed, what looked like a scene from the ‘Arabian Nights.’ But the ‘piece de resistance’ was the gentle sound of water splashing into a fountain, which resembled the face of a very old and wise farmer, complete with his hat. Again, scatter cushions were placed cleverly on the wall at the base.

I sipped my glass of cool white wine, whilst enjoying the sound of the birds in the mountains, and decided without much persuading that I must sample the mouth-watering fresh food which was on offer at El Draguillo. I chose the local steak cooked on a stone, house salad and of course home made fries. I wasn’t disappointed, Alexjandro showed me to my table and for the next hour I enjoyed one of the finest meals I have eaten on the island. The freshest ingredients were used, a real salad, not just the normal limp lettuce leaves with the odd slice of tomatoe, this had everything you could want! And the fries, proper thickly cut potatoes without

a hint of the oily residue some restaurants serve up. The steak was ‘to die for’, complimented by a nice fruity Rose local wine. I eyed up the fresh dessert menu, but just couldn’t find room for anymore food.

So I took my glass of wine outside once again and sank into those wonderful soft chairs, watching the diners come and go with happy contented faces. This indeed was a real find, and after speaking for a while to Stefan, the Owner, I realised that perfection was indeed a high priority for him, from the pristine white tablecloths and napkins, to the flat screen outdoor tv screen to entertain his guests. He told me they were open all day, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday they have live music. He warmly welcomes all nationalities and caters for most tastes, from the coffee and snack to the full four course dinner. Paellas and barbecues are a speciality of the house.

It was time to bid farewell to my ‘place in the sun’, or should that be a pAlace in the sun!

For bookings please call Stefan on 928 56 97 34, or just pop in anytime, a warm welcome awaits you

By Debbie Wenn

A PaLace In the Sun ...


Letters to the EditorPlease write to us and The Canary News will award the Letter of the Week a Free COMBO mealat Fusion Restaurant & Lounge Bar in Arguineguin (See advertisement below for address)The Canary News reserves the right to edit your letters and accepts no responsility for readers’ opinions.

Letter of the week

Dear Editor

Issue No.14 - Letter from John Maxwell We have owned the only English Restaurant/Cafe bar in Puerto Mogan for nearly 4 years. We are sorry to here that any visitor to Puerto Mogan has been charged extortionate prices for a large beer as described in Mr Maxwells letter.

We pride ourselves in offering the same fair and we believe very reasonable price, of 2,50 euros for a pint today as when we opened in the summer of 2006. I always believe that the bars offering good value for money advertise their prices. We are aware that some of our less scrupulous competitors charge a great deal more. We hope that Mr Maxwell and also future visitors to Puerto Mogan will not be put off by reading Mr Maxwells letter, and look forward to welcoming him and all future customers. RegardsJo and Paul ElmerRestaurant Le Maree

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to reply to Mr. Maxwells’ letter and putting your views forward. Ed.

Dear Canary News,

I felt I just had to write to you concerning the problems we are having trying to find a company who rent out cars which take wheelchairs, with or without a ramp. I cannot believe there are no companies on Gran Canaria which offer this service.

We found one company but they wouldn’t rent out to private people, you had to take their driver at the ridiculous cost of 200€ a day!

Whilst at the Faro Dos market on Sunday we noticed a gentleman struggling to get his wheelchair onto a pavement as there wasn’t any lowered space, in the end he had to get out of the chair and was helped by my partner. They too have difficulty getting about.

A real disgrace as far as I am concerned and we certainly won’t be back here again.

Marjory Keep

We are sorry to hear about this and would ask any company who supplies this service to contact us, so

that in the future we can pass details on if required. Ed

Dear Canary News,

We have just moved over here from the Costa del Sol and cannot believe how few buildings have solar panels installed. We have been searching for a property here and one of our main requirements is that it should have solar panels. We used this system on the Costa del Sol and found it absolutely great. Apart from the initial cost, which was a little high we can honestly say it worked fine for us and of course no more big electricity bills!

So why, on this lovely island, where you have sunshine nearly every day are there hardly any properties using this kind of system? I would be interested to know, as wind farms are here, which are rather unsightly, but do the job. Anyone out there who can enlighten me please?

Frank and Carol Main

Over to you readers, has anyone got an answer? Ed

And finally ...

Back to our controversial subject of prices here on the island,

A friend of mine told me that whilst visiting her hairdresser last week, she got chatting to a nice couple from Norway. It was their first visit to the island as normally they go to Fuerteventura or further afield. However this time they decided on Gran Canaria as they had been told that our beaches were better. My friend and this couple discussed the pros and cons about the island and the subject which had most air space was the price of shopping, eating out and general day to day expenditure. The couple told my friend that prices on this island were nearly equivalent to those back in Norway. Added to this, they knew for certain that when they had dined out at Spanish restaurants they had been ‘ripped off’ as they put it. They won’t be back!

No comment. Ed.

Hi Canary News

Re: Letter from John Maxwell and drinks prices in Mogan. I would like to comment on John Maxwells letter regarding drinks prices in Mogan. I am a resident in Pueblo de Mogan and regulary visit the seafront Restaurants and Bars. As in any town/city prices do vary between location and establishment. If you visit Puerto Mogan with the beautiful & peaceful Harbour you would expect to pay a premium price for drinks, just because of where you are. Every holiday visitor wants to see Mogan Harbour. If you visit Playa de Mogan (beach seafront) the prices do vary from that in the Harbour. I drink in Waypoint on the seafront which I saw advertised in the Canary News and a pint of beer costs me 3 Euros and with great views. I dread to know where John paid 4.50 Euros for a pint on his visit. As in a theatre, front row seats are quite rightly more expensive than the upper circle! Mogan has much to offer especially if you shop around. Kind regards Jez Cook

Good points Jez, and thanks to you too for your comments and advice. Ed

These were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a great sense of humour (not to mention a low tolerance threshold for idiots!)

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia ? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK). A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)A: Sure, it’s only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia?

Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane ,Cairns , Townsville and Hervey Bay ? (UK) A: What did your last slave die of? Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ? (USA ) A: A-Fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe .Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not ... Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked. Q:Which direction is North in Australia ? ( USA ) A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we’ll send the rest of the directions. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia ? ( UK ) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do...

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? (USA)A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia ? ( UK ) A: You are a British politician, right?

Q : Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? ( Germany ) A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can Dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA) A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Australian Tourism Website


SER or ESTAR? Part One

One of the most challenging aspects of learning Spanish is choosing whether to use SER or ESTAR which both mean ‘to be’ in English.

Refer to the table on how to conjugate (change) these rather irregular verbs in the present:

Which one to choose?

Although there are exceptions, the short rule is this:

SER is used to describe permanent qualities or hard facts: name, nationality, origins, profession, ‘inherent characteristics’ of a person or place (physical description, personality etc), possession, what something´s made of, telling the time and many impersonal expressions.

ESTAR is used for temporary situations (e.g. ¿Cómo estás? How are you right now?), any geographical location, whether permanent or temporary (¿Dónde

está Londres? Está en Inglaterra. Where is London? It´s in England), and different kinds of states (alive/dead, work-related, marriage status etc. – more of which later).

A closer look at SER

DESCRIBING ONESELF OR OTHERS: Soy Theresa, soy inglesa y soy profesora (I´m Theresa, I´m English and I´m a teacher – note that the Spanish just say ‘I´m teacher’). Mi amiga es de Las Palmas, y es alta, guapa y muy inteligente (My female friend is from Las Palmas, and is tall, good-looking and very intelligent). See how the first two adjectives end in ‘a’ because it´s a female we´re describing? Adjectives that don´t end in o/a are ‘neutral’ and only change from singular to plural: mis amigas y yo somos inteligentes e interestantes).

POSSESSION: There´s no apostrophe, so ownership is expressed back to front. For example instead of saying ‘it´s Pedro´s car’ you say es el coche de Pedro (lit: ‘it´s the car of Pedro’). Or son los zapatos de mi hermana (they´re my sister´s shoes).

MORE HARD FACTS: Mi collar [koh-yar] no es de oro (my necklace isn´t made of gold). Las mesas son plásticas (the tables are plastic).

ASKING QUESTIONS: ¿Eres de aquí? Are you from here? (Origins). ¿Son ustedes estudiantes? (Are you both/all students?) ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)

THE DAY OR TIME: Hoy es viernes. Son las dos, y es mi cumpleaños. (Today is Friday. It´s two o´clock and it´s my birthday).

IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS: Es importante aprender español, (it´s important to learn Spanish). Es terrible abandonar un perro, (it´s terrible to abandon a dog).

Want more practice?

http://lingolex.com/ser/ gives clear explanations of whether to use ser or estar, plus a range of multiple-choice quizzes to test your understanding.

Top Tip

TDT (Digital television) allows you to watch many programmes on Spanish tv in their original English format, with Spanish subtitles. Alternatively, watch Spanish language shows with additional subtitles for the hard of hearing (most remote controls offer this option) to help you understand.

Spanish Lessons

Lesson 11

with Theresa Coe

If you have any questions or comments relating to this column or the Spanish language in general: Please email [email protected]

€46

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TO BE SER ESTARI am (yo) soy estoyyou (singular) are (tú) eres estáshe/she/it is (él/ella/eso) es estáwe are (nosotros) somos estamosthey are/you (plural) are (ellos/ustedes) son estánYo, tú, él (I, you, he) etc. are in brackets because the Spanish don´t often include these words –

the verb endings alone usually tell us all we need to know. So, soy can ONLY mean ‘I am’.


WHEN YOU think of peer pressure you think of these words in terms of children much older, possibly teenagers and certainly not four year olds’, in fact you tend to think of this in adult terms. This is not the case, as it can start as soon as children make friends, and can even be found in a child as young as two years of age.

In a younger child it can be just imitating another child who has thrown a toy across the room, or copying them when they are saying “NO” to their parents. This might sound extreme but the children are put into situations by us as adults and are displaying normal behaviour patterns.

It is not until your child gets older that it can begin to affect a childs’ learning and development, or until like myself a teacher calls you after class to have “a little word”. She tells you that your child’s behavior has changed in class, and that it is affecting his schoolwork and other children, and have you noticed any changes at home? I think at this point, after getting over the initial shock, because this could not possibly be your “little angel” they are talking about, you start to view this as something quite serious and which needs addressing straight away.

As someone who was a “goody two shoes” at school, you feel that it must be something you as a parent is not doing. As a parent, learning curves in our childrens’

lives are not always pleasant but are a necessary way of teaching our children boundaries and acceptable behavior which can be a hard lesson to learn.

Oliver, my son who is now five, - a very bright, friendly and loving little boy, started at a new school last year.

Unfortunately he made friends with a couple of other boys who had a reputation of being “disruptive” in the class, these were boisterous boys and Oliver was attracted to their mischievous antics and soon became part of the “in crowd”, as they were seen as very funny to the rest of the class.

As a consequence Olivers’ teacher asked to have a chat with me after school to highlight the fact that she

was worried about this friendship and could see that Oliver was being overwhelmed by these boys, and it had manifested itself into him being easily distracted, getting into arguments and not listening; traits which were not his usual characteristics.

After discussing strategies on how to cope with this, the teacher and I decided to deal in a constructive manner and have coloured stickers for positive recognition and behaviour - a little like a reward for good work and achievements. I decided that I would take this a step further and put together a chart at home which basically worked as a day planner.

I sat down with Oliver and explained to him that his behaviour had not been acceptable and explained to him that if he listened, concentrated and was not disruptive in class he would get a coloured sticker from the teacher. We would then stick this onto our chart at home, and at the end of the week if he had managed to get sufficient stickers he could have a reward on a Friday. The rewards could consist of things of interest to himself like going swimming or a special comic or having a friend to tea etc.

Oliver, as he is a bright boy took this as a challenge he wanted to part of and soon became very enthusiastic and excited at the prospect of what he could claim as his reward.

As Olivers’ mum I advised him to make some new friends, and did my part as a parent by making friends and inviting other mums to our home for coffee, therefore allowing the childrens’s friendships and positive influences to blossom.

After some minor hiccups and adjustments on Olivers’ part he greatly improved. His schoolwork and behaviour was proof of this; his teacher was pleased, and I as a parent, knew it was the right thing to do.

This is a stage I will be glad to see the back of, but realise that “Peer Pressure” is something that may manifest itself again, but with positive strategies and early recognition and intervention there can be a rewarding outcome.

By Nicky Speake

Family Life

Peer Pressure

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because, even though it was a very large mammal, its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, ‘When I get to Heaven, I will ask Jonah.’ The teacher asked, ‘What if Jonah went to hell?’ The little girl replied, ‘Then you ask him.’

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, ‘I’m drawing God.’ The teacher paused and said, ‘But no one knows what God looks like.’ Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, ‘They will in a minute.’ A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to ‘honour’ thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, ‘Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’ Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, ‘Thou shall not kill.’

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in

contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, ‘Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?’ Her mother replied, ‘Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.’ The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, ‘Mommy, how come ALL of grandma’s hairs are white?’ The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. ‘Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, ‘There’s Susan, she’s a lawyer,’ or ‘That’s Michael, He’s a doctor.’ A small voice at the back of the room rang out, ‘And there’s the teacher, she’s dead.’

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, ‘Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.’ ‘Yes,’ the class said. ‘Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn’t run into my feet?’ A little fellow shouted, ‘Cause your feet ain’t empty.’

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: ‘Take only ONE ... God is watching.’ Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note: ‘Take all you want. God is watching the apples.’

7 Reasons Not To Mess With Children


HOW MANY of you are seeking new jobs, interviewing candidates or dealing with clients? How many of you are attempting to influence and persuade others on a daily basis? Life is just one big round of negotiations and opportunities to sell yourself. The question to ask is “am I good at it”?

Whether you are going to a job interview, meeting a potential new client, mixing with someone on a first date or any other similar situation, it is vital to know your worth before you start talking!

Think of a sales person who is trying to convince you to buy a new TV, but they know little of its features, they have an idea why one brand is better than another, they just hope you will buy it so that they will get a commission or hit their target. Bet they don’t come over to you as very convincing, right? Chances are you will be off to the next shop taking your cash with you.So what if you were in that position? Having to sell yourself, your product, service or ideas, how well do you think

you would fare? If you cannot explain clearly to another person why they should trust you or buy from you, then you are going to fail or lose that opportunity. To

be convincing you must know your worth and speak from a position of confidence, credibility and assuredness. So how do you get to know your worth?

Make a list of your strengths, about 10 and then a list

of weaknesses, 3 will be enough. These could be interpersonal skills, professional training skills, related experience or anything you think is relevant to the situation. Once you have your list, really reflect on why your strengths are assets. More to the point would anyone be happy to have access to and even pay to utilize them. Now you need a plan to overcome your weaknesses, or at least chip away at them, if you need help look on the 121 Business Coach website (www.121businesscoach.com). Knowing yourself before you attend your meeting or networking function allows your inner-self to see and focus on your successes and attributes, helping

you to bring them to the forefront of your conversations. A feeling of confidence, accomplishment and worth will result in giving you something to talk about if the opportunity arises or is required (like in a job interview). These examples will help.

What sounds better to you? Q. “Why should we hire you?” A1. “Well I really want to work. Give me a chance to really show you my abilities. I am very eager to join your company!”OR A2. “I have over 10 years of industry experience in 3 different positions and have had a chance to make mistakes and grow by them. I know my analytical skills will complement my strong work ethic and desire to get the job done properly, as my references will attest to and I also believe that your company/this position fits with my personality. Let me explain…”Q. “Why should I buy this product and not your competitors’?”

A1. “We are the best. Everyone knows that. Just ask anyone and they will tell you that we have been around the longest and have great service. I have heard that

our competitors often mark up their items before sales as well. Shameful. You can trust us for your needs.”

OR

A2. “That is a great question. Even though our customers demand the best quality and customer care in Spain, some people still may feel a little nervous trying a new product. Some customers felt they needed our product but were not sure if it would suit their needs fully. However, after buying it from us and filling out our customer service survey, we found that 98% of all customers who bought that same item were absolutely satisfied. The 2% that were not were offered a full refund, no questions asked. We believe in treating our customers with respect and earning their business.”You see, no matter whether you are applying for a job or selling a product, the main principles are the same, to sell yourself, with a calm confidence that comes from knowing who you are and what you have i.e. your worth.

If you would like to know more about improving your worth then email [email protected] or call Tel: 965 743 481 for confidential advice.

Business Advice

do you know how much you’re worth?

WHEN THE Going Gets Tough, the Tough Innovate. Moments of economic turbulence provide the unique opportunity to start new businesses, launch disruptive new products, and strengthen customer loyalty – often at a discount. During these challenging times, here are a few pointers on what to do, why to do it, and what to avoid. When the going gets tough, the tough innovate. Here’s how.During difficult economic times, consumers use greater discretion in making purchasing decisions. Every dollar matters and therefore every decision a customer makes is examined more closely. If your product or service isn’t extraordinary, your customers will be more likely to delay purchasing it. And, as every great salesman knows, time kills all dealsWe are so often faced with the dilemma of having to cut advertising in times of economic softness. But here is some real data that can illustrate why that is a bad idea.

McGraw-Hill Research study of over 600 Businesses found that:1981-1982 …. businesses that maintained or increased their ad spend during this time* Averaged higher sales growth during the recession and in the following 3

years!By 1985 …. sales of the businesses that maintained or increased their ad spend during that recession* Sales had risen 256% over those that had cut back on advertisingLikewise in 2001 …. another

study found that aggressive recession advertisers* Increased market share 2 ½ times the average for all businesses in the post-recessionIn 2002 …. the Strategic planning institute illustrated that during economic expansion* Although 80% of businesses increased their advertising spend there was NO improvement in market share* Why? – because everyone had increased ad spending!

Innovating through Recession


Scandinavian Scene with Nina Blaafjell

TOMAS AND Ove have been business partners for over six years now, and supply Scandinavian style furniture to most of the south.

Ove, who spends six months a year in Gran Canaria has been in the business of furniture buying for over 30 years and has many contacts back in their native Sweden, whilst Tomas, lives on Gran Canaria full time.

They are a happy, friendly pair, who if you see them around the island in their delivery van, always have time to stop and pass the time of day with you.

Talking to Tomas, who speaks perfect English, he told me that nearly all their business comes from the south

of the island and clients include German and English as well as the expected Scandinavian community.

Looking around their ample ‘warehouse’ space, you can pick out the different styles which suit the different nationalities, yet all the furniture comes directly from Sweden. Tomas also explained that with Oves’ many contacts back in Sweden, if a client requires a particular item which they don’t have in stock, they can readily obtain it, hence their motto is ‘We Never Say No’.

One of their most popular items seems to be their garden furniture; robust but stylish in a variety of colours, or their modern low seating units which complements the light decor of most of the properties over here. Soft furnishing are also available, from curtain and blinds to gaily patterned scatter cushions and bedding. You can visit Sangspecialisten out of hours, but make sure you call first to arrange a convenient time. Delivery is prompt and if you require any item assembling then this can also be taken care of for a small extra charge.

So for quality Swedish designs are very affordable prices, visit their website or contact Tomas (see their ad on this page), where you are guaranteed a ‘service with a smile’.

By Ann Turner

‘Open All Hours’


FeaturLas Palmase

The Las Palmas carnival is coming to an end after almost a month of celebrations, acts and events, but Gran Canaria carries on celebration this tradition in the many villages and towns throughout its geography. I will carry on reporting on these many celebrations and giving you the dates of the most important and significant dates of each of these, so don’t miss out and get yourselves to these parties as they should not be missed!

February 2010

Las Palmas:12th 21.00 hours- Drag Queen Gala. 5€ entrance fee. Santa Catalina Park. 01.00 hours- Disco Night. Santa Catalina Park and Canarias Park.

13th 17.00 hours- Grand carnival Parade. From La Isleta to Triana. 23.00 hours- Latin Night. Santa Catalina Park and Canarias Park.

14th 12.00 hours- Canine Carnival. Santa Catalina Park. 19.00 hours- Choreography Festival. Santa Catalina Park.

15th 17.00 hours- Infant Carnival Parade. From Castillo de la Luz to Santa Catalina Park. 19.00 hours- Infant Fiesta. Santa Catalina Park. 23.00 hours- Latin Night. Santa Catalina Park and Canarias Park.

16th 12.00 hours- Carnival Under the Sun. Las Canteras Boulevard. 13.00 hours- Carnival Tuesday Concert. Santa Catalina Park. 21.00 hours- Corporal Painting Competition. Santa Catalina Park.

17th 19.00 hours- Integration Gala. Santa Catalina Park.

19th 21.00 hours- Wake of the Sardine. Santa Catalina Park. 23.00 hours- Latin Night. Santa Catalina Park and Canarias Park.

20th 18.00 hours- Funeral of the sardine. From Calle Venegas to Las Canteras Beach. 23.00 hours- Night of the sardine. Santa Catalina Park and Canarias Park. San Bartolome de Tirajana:

16th 20.30 hours- Exaltation of Traditional Canarian Carnival, San Fernando of Maspalomas, Cultural Center of Maspalomas.

18th 20.30 hours- Traditional Carnival Dance, El Tablero, Culture House of El Tablero.

19th 20.00 hours- Traditional Carnival Dance, Castillo del Romeral, Culture House of Castillo del Romeral.

20th 18.00 hours- Traditional Carnival Dance, Aldea Blanca, Public Plaza of Aldea Blanca.

21st 19.00 hours- Traditional Carnival Dance, Cercados de Espino, Church Plaza. Aguimes:

12th 21.00 hours- Adult Murgas Final, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

13th 23.00 hours- Carnival Verbena (Dance), Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

14th 12.00 hours- 1st Infant Dance, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

15th 21.00 hours- Night of the Clown, Aguimes Casino.

16th 21.30 hours- Vintage Carnival Dance, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

17th 21.30 hours- Burial of the Sardine, From the Municipal Swimming pool Parking.

18th 18.00 hours- Infant Carnival Workshops, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza. 21.30 hours- Traditional Carnival Dance, Aguimes Casino.

19th 22.30 hours- Carnival Dance and Elections of the “Lagarta and Bastona”, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

20th 23.00 hours- Last Carnival Dance and 8th Group Fancy Dress Contest, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

21st 12.00 hours- 2nd Infant Dance and Grand Flower Battle, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Plaza.

Carnival Events.


LIKE MOST people, Jason Barrow came to Gran Canaria in 2008 for the sunshine and a better way of life. Originally from Glasgow, there’s one thing you’ll notice straightaway about him, it’s his uncanny resemblance to Boy George; a resemblance that Jason has capitalised on over the years.

Back in Glasgow, Jason is a registered nurse and worked as such for 18 years, however most weekends Jason would perform karaoke in his local pub, and because of his likeness to the “Boy” and his fantastic voice, offers of professional shows started to arrive.Jason performed lots of session work for various musicians and live gigs, he also could be seen treading the boards

in theatre, appearing in musicals such as La Cageauxfolles, Chicago and Jesus Christ Superstar in principle roles, to name but a few.

One of Jason most treasured memories is of him appearing as Boy George in ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ (which can be viewed on You Tube). Jason loved the experience and in fact still has the lucky hat he wore on the show and which he now wears to his professional appearances here in Gran Canaria.

Jason has met Boy George on 5 occasions. The first time was back stage at the BBC live show in London where they were both appearing, this was before Jason appeared on ‘Stars in Their Eyes’.

Even Boy George commented on their likeness, telling Jason they had the “same eyes”. When he met him after ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ was aired, he was very impressed with

the performance; George himself was a past winner of the show, appearing as David Bowie, and was very impressed with Jasons’ performance as he knew himself what goes into making the show.

Jason often gets mistaken for Boy George even when out of costume. One of the funniest occasions was when he

was in Puerto Rico and Steve Strange caught Jasons’ act and couldn’t believe his eyes. Steve Strange was instrumental in the discovery of Boy George and stayed until after the show was finished to spend some time with Jason, telling him stories of Georges’ early days at the Blitz Club in London during the New Romantic era before George himself was discovered. He

also told Jason jokingly that he was a slightly slimmer version of George as he is today and a few stories off the record of the goings on at the Blitz Club

which Jason couldn’t possibly put in print. For the past 18 months Jason had been appearing in Chez Funny Boys in Puerto Rico, and as well as performing his Boy George routine, he is an accomplished vocalist with a wide repertoire of songs. His Master of Ceremonies is second to none, and you may not recognise him as the support act where he changes his costumes with lightening speed then completes the show in the finale.

Each Saturday night you can see him perform in “The Pub” (known locally as Kimberley and Steves’) in Puerto Rico.

He gives a great performance and is looking to take on more bookings either as himself or as Boy George. To contact Jason call him on 610 127 324, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Canarian Character

A ‘Chameleon’ Named Jason


To keep the same phone number If I change the telephone company, have I the right to keep the same phone number? Yes. The user can change operator at any time, and has the right to keep, if desired, the same phone number (portability) in the case of home lines only if you don’t change the location. This also applied to mobile phones also. Flight delay If the flight I have booked suffers a delay and I am not longer interested

in taking the flight, has the airline company to pay me back the full amount of the ticket? For flight delays, companies often claim “technical causes” or others, but this does not mean that they must not be responsible for them, except in cases of ‘mayor force’, i.e. in exceptional circumstances, outside their control, which must be demonstrated. Otherwise, they have to respond for breach of contract.

Any noncompliance will result in the obligation to compensate affected passengers. The compensation paid

depends on the time delay and the distance in miles between the destinations. In any case, in order to have a refund, it must be clear that the journey is no longer viable because you will not get to your destination at the scheduled time.

Apart from the refund of the paid money, you can claim other damage, if the delay has produced other accredited damage. The most common is usually the loss of links with other transports, which causes that you not only lost the first flight, but also the follow on connection. Delays in the return of personal income tax I have always received the rebate of my income tax shortly after the declaration. This year it is taking more time. Is it because there is no money?

Although the tax administration annually proceeds to perform the devolutions faster, the truth is that tax law establishes a period of six months for the rebate. This period begins the 30th of June. So until end of year they can return the quantities requested without paying interests. After this, they will pay you back with interest and you have not to claim for.

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‘The Canarian Lawyer’

Hard drive FragmentationFirst, I’ll have to explain a little about how a hard Drive is laid out and stores your data. The easiest way to do this is to make comparisons with something everyone is probably familiar with. So, I’ll start out by comparing the hard drive to a large building like a warehouse.

When the hard drive is first bought, it is like the newly built warehouse, pretty much empty in side. It has to be prepared to hold whatever it is you are going to store in it. In the warehouse, we will lay out many rows. In each row there will be shelves from top to bottom, and in these shelves we will create bins that will hold the product. For this comparison, all these bins will be the same size.

Compare this to the hard drive where the rows become tracks, the shelves become cylinders, and the bins become sectors. In the case of the hard drive, each of these sectors is the same size capable of holding 256 bytes of data. This general layout is created on the hard drive by a process known as formatting.

When a hard drive is formatted, the tracks, cylinders, and sectors are laid out magnetically on the hard drive. As in a new warehouse, where all the new bins are completely empty, so it is with the hard drive, all the sectors are empty. This is why re-formatting a hard drive destroys or removes all previously stored data.Now, to keep track of where the stuff is stored, we need an office where the files are kept. In the hard drive this

is called the directory or catalog. If we place this office in or near the center of the warehouse, we will have access to more of the storage space all around the office than if it were placed at one end. The same thing goes with the hard drive. The directory is placed near the center so the distance needed to travel to the data is shorter and therefore takes less time to get there and back.

In the warehouse we use men, trucks and other handling tools to store or retrieve the items. In the hard drive, we use the “read/write” heads to go back and forth between the directory and the sectors to either get (read) data, or store (write) it.

When a loaded truck comes into the warehouse, there is a bill of lading that tells what is in the truck, how much it weighs, and the warehouse man calculates how much space will be require to store it. The warehouse man then allocates a number units required to hold the items. To make it easier to keep track of, there are always the same number of bins in each allocation unit.

The size of the allocation unit will vary with the size of the warehouse. If the allocation unit contains 50 bins, but only 40 are actually used, then the other 10 are wasted, and never available for use. Therefore, the smaller the size of the allocation unit is the better.

Compare this to the hard drive, the allocation unit becomes the cluster, so all space allocated on the hard drive is done by the cluster. Now, if the cluster contains 50 sectors but only 40 are actually used, then the other 10 are wasted and never used. So again, the smaller the size of the cluster is the better.

Finally, I’ll get to fragmentation. In the warehouse, new items are being received and sent out all the time. In the hard drive, new data is being written and read all the time. To keep things as manageable as possible, space is always allocated for new arrivals starting as close to the office/directory as possible, then outward from there.

When the first shipment comes in it is decided that 10 units will be needed and the items are stored in this area. The next shipment has units allocated the same way and is stored next to this, and so on until the warehouse begins to fill up. In the hard drive the incoming data is stored the same way, starting at the directory and moving outwards. So far, so good and no problems.

Now, from time to time, items are removed leaving empty bins. These are marked in the office as being available. In the hard drive, data is erased or deleted, and the sectors are marked in the directory as being available. For the sake of this example, we’ll say that there are now 10 empty bins/sectors available close to the office/directory when in comes a new load that will take 30 bins/sectors. The 10 bins are allocated here first being closest to the office, and then the search goes on for the next available 20 bins. These may be scattered all over the warehouse. The same goes for the hard drive. The available sectors closest to the directory are allocated first, and then the remaining ones are allocated from there. This causes the data to be stored in non adjacent areas, and it is said to have become fragmented.

The more that the drive is used; the more data is written and erased, the more it will become fragmented. Compare the hard drive’s read/write head to being a warehouse man with a small hand truck, and a short memory. He checks the office, finds the first bin and goes to it and gets the items. In this bin, the location of the next bin is kept, so it is obtained and then the man goes there. These items are collected, the location of the next bin is found, and this continues until all the required items have been collected. This constant traveling, which can be back and forth all over the warehouse takes time. The more scattered the items are the longer it takes to get them all. In the hard drive, the small hand truck is compared with the hard drive’s small read/write head. The more traveling it has to do, moving from sector to sector to get the data, the longer it takes to retrieve it.


Feature

Las Palmas Crowns Its’ New Queens Continued from front page.....

Viewers were also given a real treat and saw this years’ winners and runners up of both the “Murgas” and “Comparsas” competitions. These shows provided the evening with a touch of humour and glamour; as if there was room for more! We were also delighted by the incredibly funny aphilharmonic group “Los Nietos de Kika”, whose interpretation was dedicated to the fashionable “Tuppersex” meetings which our wives and girlfriends take part in.In this year’s competition, viewers both at home and live on the night, were given the opportunity of voting for their favourite candidate in order to assist the decisions by the three tables of judges. These were made up of personalities from the press, the fashion industry and technical specialists. After a short deliberation both the judges and viewers alike granted the privilege of being the Las Palmas Carnival Queen 2010 to Mame Yame Matallah Moustapha with her Fantasy “Yuma”, designed by Willy Diaz and sponsored by the Commercial Centre, El Muelle.

The royal podium was completed by the following 4 candidates:

1st Lady; Ana Miranda, “I Never Say Goodbye” Fantasy, designed by Fernando Mendez, sponsored by Commercial Centre Al-Campo Telde.

2nd Lady: Anais Ramos Ortiz, “Versalles Sin Ti” Fantasy, designed by Santi Castro Campos, sponsored by Commercial Centre Las Arenas.

3rd Lady: Sara Betancourt, “Mon Chérie” Fantasy, designed by Gran Canaria Diseños and Alberto Robaina, sponsored by Commercial Centre Las Terrazas.

4th Lady: Yanira Huertas, “7 Kilates” Fantasy, designed by Julio Vicente Artiles, sponsored by Commercial Centre Siete Palmas. As an added bonus the organisation also put on several musical shows with renowned Spanish artists; Lucrecia, a young Venezuelan artist provided a very credible Caribbean salsa touch to the evening, and for the younger female members of the audience, David Bustamante, who replaced the local singer Rosana, who was unable to attend because of ill health. Needless to say the audience went wild.This was all topped up by a massive fireworks display which marked the end of a magical and glamorous evening.

Infant Carnival Queen.

In addition to the Gala Queen, all Carnivals also choose an Infant Queen, Carried out in the same style but geared towards the younger members of the family. Cartoons and popular childrens’ characters took over the stage in Santa Catalina Park; colour and innocence filled the eyes of both children and adults

alike.Again following the television theme, the stage was initially filled with some of the most popular Disney characters dancing and performing, much to the delight of the massive number of children who attended on Sunday the 7th February.

Following this all ten junior candidates paraded their costumes (fantasies) on the stage with the same elegance as the older ones had done on the previous Friday night, all under the watchful eyes of the jury who would decide on the winner at the end of the Gala.

On this occasion the honour went to Andrea Encinoso Pérez with her Fantasy “Contigo Aprenri”, (With you I learnt), designed by Manuel Encinoso Quintana and sponsored by Amanda Bus. A very imaginative creation with Andrea in the middle dressed as a strawberry cheesecake and surrounded by some of the main characters of Sesame Street. Her performance made her stand out from the rest of her rivals.

The runners up were as follows:

1st Lady- Vaitiare Montesdeoca Escribano, “Un Toque de Magia” (A Touch of Magic), designed by Patricia Escribano.

2nd Lady- Carla Medina Garcia, “Y Ahora, mas Dificil Todavia”, (And now for Something Harder), designed by Julio Vicente Artiles.

3rd Lady- Nerea Vera, “Tarta de Fresa y Yo, Surcaremos los Cielos Rumbo a Nuestro Sueño de

Carnaval” (Strawberry Cheesecake and Me will fly through the sky looking for our Carnival Dream), designed by Erika Hernandez and Candelaria Martin.

4th Lady- Yara Meneses, “Analogica o Digital, Pipi y sus Amigos te Invitan a Bailar”, (Analogical or Digital, Pipi and her Friends Invite you to Dance), designed by YZY Globos Decoraciones.

A truly wonderful night which everyone should see at least once.

‘The Serenquenquenes’ Win the Murgas CompetitionThe Murgas not only reflects the funnier side of the Carnival with its good humoured ribbing and criticism, but also it represents the real Carnival spirit.

It is a fiesta of laughter and enjoyment, and a time where the people are allowed to voice their strongest feelings against the governing politicians and also to make jokes about the neighbouring

island of Tenerife, a rivalry which goes back many years.

Murgas reflects this to perfection and as far as the carnival performances go the amount of people which they attract only goes to show that without them there would be no fiesta.

Over 10,000 people congregated on the night of 31st of January around the stage in Santa Catalina Park, where the final stage of the Murgas competition took place. Each Murga is given a certain time limit to carry out their show, which is judged for the content


and performance of their songs, their costumes and a special prize to the most voluble critique.

After a six hour long gala which ended at 3am in the morning, the jury proclaimed the Serenquenquenes the winners with their unique tribute to the Vegueta Market, which this year celebrates its 150th birthday. This Murga from Aguimes has managed to come through victorious for the 4th year running making them an institution as far as Murgas’ go.

The 3rd and 4th place went to Trapazones and Melindrosos respectively, again two Murgas’ with a long history in the Las Palmas Carnival.

The prize for the best critique went to Los Teresitos, a sub-group of the Serenquenquenes and closing the show with the best costume was Crazytrotas followed by Chancletas and Lady’s Chancletas.

Tropical Rhythms at the Comparsas Final.Again Aguimes has proved to be an excellent producer of Carnival groups with over 100 years of tradition in the Canarian carnival.

The Comparsa Aragüime was proclaimed winner of this years’colourful and rhythm filled event. Although the gala had to be postponed on two occasions due to bad weather but it was finally celebrated on the night of the 2nd February where more than 3000 spectators flocked to watch it live.

A total of nine groups were given the chance to exhibit their choreographies and colourful designs under the spot lights of Santa Catalina Park displaying as always the Batucada and Latin rhythms which characterize them.

The second and third places went to the Cubatao and Metropolis Comparsas.

The first prize for costumes also went to the Aragüime group, who were the special stars of this spectacular evening.

The Maddest Canarian Race……A Total Success!

AFTER LAST years’ success, the organisers of the Las Palmas Carnival together with the sports shop Zona Boxes and the Mountain Club Run-go-say, put together the maddest race in the Canarian Calendar.

The 2nd Correveydile took place on 6th of February on the Alcarabaneras beach with well over 200 participants all sporting their fancy dress. The excitement was electric and it was hard not to join in the general good humour and laughter as they waited to take part.

The idea is for competitors to run a distance of about 4 kilometers, on sand and to overcome a tremendous amount of obstacles, which included dipping themselves in water tanks, climbing over a bouncy castle whilst children drenched them with their water pistols, crawling through small holes under the sand and even sliding down a massive wooden slide as well as much more.

All of this of course as part of the Carnival, wearing fancy dress. Participants could take part individually, in pairs or in groups;and I must say the ingenuity of

some of them was quite mesmerizing.

As far as being first was concerned, this was not the most important point, rather it was who had the most fun and made others have the most fun! This year the honour went to a group of male synchronized swimmers who even carried their swimming pool with them and delighted everyone with spontaneous choreographies all along the track.

As well as these winners we also saw Sanfermineras (female bull runners from Pamplona), policemen and women who, incidentally were running in front of thieves, Ninja Turtles, Love Hearts, an Italian Chef, a group of Vikings, Playmobile Men, Sponge Bobs, Mean Pirates, a Miss Santa and even two green Aliens who won the pairs fancy dress competition.

The atmosphere and ambience could not have been better in a race where having fun and enjoying yourselves was the most important part of the competition,and as always I encourage you to make a note of this event and take part simply for the laugh of it, because if something was present all throughout the race……….that was laughter!

Tradition and Glamour in Gran Dama Election9TH OF February was the night chosen by the

organization of this years Carnival in Las Palmas for the election of the “Gran Dama”, the oldest member of the Carnival Queen Trio. Regardless of their age these candidates are the oldest and keenest fans of the Las Palmas Carnival, having lived even during the years of prohibition during the Spanish dictatorship. So it is these ladies who really and truly live the fiestas and have done so for decades, and this of course is reflected when they paraded their fantasies on stage.

A total of 6 candidates walked the Santa Catalina Stage under the watchful eye of thousands of people of all ages as previously done by the younger candidates to be elected queen. They took up the challenge with the same or even more glamour. Again their dresses or fantasies are of great volume and weight but this did not stop them parading around with huge smiles on their faces and following their choreographies to perfection.

The night was also filled with music and comedy shows which on more than one occasion got the whole crowded standing up to dance.

After a long deliberation the jury finally made their decision:Gran Dama 2010: Inma Ascensio Herrera, “Jaque al Trono” Fantasy.1st Lady: Maria Luisa Suarez Montesdeoca, “En Un Pis Pas” Fantasy. 2nd Lady: Francisca Milagros Diaz Arencibia, “Aire” Fantasy.3rd Lady: Maria del Carmen Anaya Hernandez. “La Edad De Oro”Fantasy.4th Lady: Lucia Gonzalez Gopar, “En Tierras Africanas” Fantasy.Friendliness Prize: Maria Teresa Ojeda Segura, “Un Jardin en el Carnaval” Fantasy.

In this way all contestants managed to take a prize home so were all winners on this special evening. I must say I felt a very different atmosphere compared to the previous two elections I had visited, and although there were fewer spectators, there seemed to

be more involvement and participation with this gala.

Don’t take me wrong people enjoyed the previous two but there was something very special about this one.

By Tito Cabral

Feature

Las Palmas Crowns Its’ New Queens


Twitters from the Atlantic with Barrie Mahoney

I NEVER cease to be amazed by the total lack of road sense shown by some drivers in Spain. No, I am not just talking about Spanish and other European drivers because, I understand from reliable sources, that it is more often than not the Brits who are responsible for many of the road accidents over here. After all, it is still not unusual to see British drivers driving the wrong way around a roundabout or speeding down a one-way street in the wrong direction. It’s all very well complaining that, “These Europeans drive on the wrong side of the road,” but I doubt that argument is a sound defence in court. In our village it is not unusual to see a toddler sitting on his father’s lap driving the family car around the village. At first I used to think it was very tiny men driving the cars, but once I had my new glasses I could see exactly who was really driving; my discovery was very worrying! I regularly see many a confident two-year-old confidently grasping the steering wheel of the car, whilst peering over the dashboard, whilst father proudly operates the clutch and, I hope, the brake. The Christmas and Kings’ Day festivities bring with them a new tranche of expensive gifts for many over-indulged children. For the last two years there has been an ever increasing number of micro motorbikes and

tiny four-wheeled vehicles, especially designed for the seven-year-old who intends to have everything, available in shops and large superstores. Advertised as “a snip at five hundred euros” these ‘toys’ are indeed generous gifts, and which many children are more than happy to receive!

Christmas Day and Kings’ Day is when these lucky infants, and their proud fathers, are anxious to try out their new roadsters for the first time. Although these micro bikes and mini four-wheel drive vehicles are tiny, they are packed with a considerable amount of punch, with many having a petrol engine capacity that would make a Black and Decker hedge trimmer feel envious! However, instead of taking them to the park,

a disused airfield or scrub land, these micro infants bomb around the local village streets as if there is no tomorrow and some, according to many irritated neighbours, may well find that they have their early days of motorised transport suddenly sabotaged by randomly strewn packets of tin tacks! These irritating little vehicles, with engines that sound very much like swarms of constipated wasps, buzz, wail and whine from mid-morning until late evening. Thankfully, these tiny vehicles eventually run out of petrol or the battery runs down and both the vehicle and the infant are at last hauled home by their now despondent fathers.

The increasing trend for these tiny vehicles and their infant drivers to use public roads and pathways is worrying, and the consequences potentially lethal. Many local drivers are not careful and considerate road users. These tiny vehicles are not intended for road use and as such give poor protection against injury. It is very rare to see helmets worn and the issues concerning insurance and the protection of pedestrians is a minefield. However, all is not lost. I am pleased to report that whilst driving out of the village yesterday I saw two police officers apprehend an unaware infant speeding in their direction on his brand new micro four-wheel drive (with father clinging on the back for good measure). The speeding infant was stopped just as he approached the main roundabout outside our village. The small boy, whom I doubt was much older than seven years, and his embarrassed father were in the process of being given a good talking to by one of the less than amused gentleman in green; the infamous yellow documents were already in the process of being filled in. Be warned, motorised infants! I doubt that many seven-year-olds will have a denuncia for a Kings’ Day present from the police! If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s website: www.barriemahoney.com

© Barrie Mahoney

Barrie’s novel ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384). - Book 1 From Teacher to Drag Queen which is now available on the island. Just call: 928 729 277 and we will get a copy to you. Price 13,99 euros. © Barrie Mahoney

Police Crackdown on Speeding Infants

AFTER A hectic few weeks of getting ready for the public, Brunos’ British supermarket opened its’ doors on Saturday 6th February. Situated in Playa del Ingles, opposite the Hotel Neptuno it’s in a prime spot to serve residents and holidaymakers alike, with plenty of parking in front.

As I entered Brunos’ supermarket he was still busily packing the large freezers with his latest products and making sure everything was in order for his prospective customers. As Marie, his assistant took over, I managed to get 10 minutes with him to discuss his latest venture.

Bruno told me, that although there are already a few British supermarkets here in the South, he recognised that there wasn’t one which included the sale of items like greetings cards and large freezer party/barbeque packs, which he specialises in. Bumper bags of sausages, burgers, real chunky chips, hash browns and a great selection of pies are all readily available.

As I looked around, people started coming in and not one left without buying something. Mrs. Church from Leicester came all the way from Sonnenland as she had seen Brunos’ ad in The Canary News the previous week and just had to come and see for herself.

Bruno and Marie chatted happily with their customers taking down requests for special items and promising to see if they could get what they wanted within the week.

I asked Bruno about the products supplied by Iceland, which had clearly marked on them the sterling price yet the euro price was more than double. He explained that it isn’t a matter of making a huge profit as some people may think, they have to cope with the exchange rates, import taxes and the cost of transport to bring British goods into Gran Canaries. Ok I can accept that, and I must admit that there are certain items that I am happy to pay a premium for just to have the real thing.

By the end of his opening day, Bruno was extremely pleased with how it all went and said they had a really successful day.

So good luck to Bruno and his staff, there’s always room for one more entrepreneur!

By Debbie Wenn

The Best of British


Serves 4Ingredients4 small eggplants4 spring onions or large scallions

4 red bell peppers2 tomatoesExtra virgin olive oil for brushing, plus 1/3 cup2 cloves garlic, thinly slicedSalt

MethodPreheat the oven to 200degreesBrush the eggplants, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes with olive oil. If using a barbeque, place the vegetables directly over the fire and grill, turning frequently, for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the skins blacken and the vegetables are tender. The variation in timing depends on the heat of the fire, and some vegetables, such as the tomatoes, may be ready before the others. If using an oven, arrange the vegetables on a rimmed baking sheet or in a roasting pan and roast, turning every 10 minutes, for 30 minutes, or until the skins blacken and the vegetables are tender. Remove the vegetables from the grill or oven, wrap in newspapers, slip into one or more plastic bags, and let cool for about 1 hour.

Unwrap the vegetables. Peel the eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes, and peel away the outer layer of the onions. Split the bell peppers in half, discard the seeds and stems, and cut lengthwise into strips about 1 1/2 inches wide. Transfer to a bowl. Trim the stems from the eggplants and core the tomatoes, and then cut them into strips of the same size as the pepper strips and add to the bowl. Trim the onions, cut into rings, and add to the bowl along with the garlic.

Add the 1/3 cup olive oil, season with salt, and toss to mix well. Serve at room temperature.

Cookery

Bacalao al Pil-Pil Salt Cod in an Olive oil Emulsion

Escalivada (Roasted eggplant, onion, and pepper with olive oil)

Bacalao al Pil-Pil is a classic Basque fare. After you prepare the garnish and simmer the cod for several minutes, you make the sauce by engaging the cod in a ‘dance’ with the olive oil to create an emulsion that looks very much like a mayonnaise. The dance is not without challenge, but even the patient novice cook can produce an excellent result.To ensure success, bear in mind the following rules: Use only olive oil; other fats will not result in the superior emulsion this dish demands. Use the best salt cod you can find or salt it yourself. Use a cazuela or similar earthenware cooking vessel that can be used on the stove top. And finally, when you are ready to place the fish in the cazuela to begin the sauce, make sure the salt cod, olive oil, and cazuela are all lukewarm.

Serves 6Ingredients2 pounds salt cod, desalted1 1/2 cups olive oil3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced1 small dried hot chilli, seeded and cut into rings

MethodDrain the salt cod and pat dry with paper towels. Cut into 3-inch squares, leaving the skin intact. When cooking later in olive oil, the skin will release the needed gelatin to help emulsify the sauce.

In a 12-inch cazuela, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and the chilli and fry, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the garlic starts to turn golden. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic and chilli to a small bowl and reserve for garnish. Reserve the oil in the cazuela.

Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the cod pieces to the oil. Simmer for about 10 minutes, being careful not to let the oil become too hot. The oil should just barely sizzle around the edges of the fish pieces.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cod to a plate and then pour the olive oil into a wide heatproof bowl to

cool. When the cod is cool enough to handle, remove any errant bones, leaving the pieces as intact as possible. Return the cod pieces, skin side up and in a single layer, to the cazuela. At this point, make sure that the cazuela, the cod, and the reserved olive oil are all lukewarm.

Place the cazuela over medium heat and begin by spooning 2 or 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over the cod. It is here that the dance begins: using both hands, rotate the cazuela in circular motions over the burner. Continue the motion until the first drops of oil start to emulsify. You will know that the emulsion is beginning when the oil drops turn pale and cling to one another. Eventually the whole sauce will turn pale white.

Continue to rotate the cazuela, interrupting only to add the olive oil gradually, spoonful by spoonful, until all the oil is incorporated into the emulsion. Depending on the quality of the cod and the gelatin content of its skin, it will take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to make the sauce.Divide the cod evenly among individual plates and spoon the sauce over the top. Garnish with the reserved garlic and chilli. Serve hot or warm.


BERLIN IS a by-word for cool these days and followers of fashion have flocked to the German capital this week for the semi-annual fashion showcase. But the event has yet to attract the very top labels or even the biggest German designers. Should Berlin give up trying to be the next Paris, or even London, and focus on what it does best?

It was something of a rallying cry when Berlin Fashion Week first started back in 2007: “Berlin could be the next Paris,” many in the German media enthused. Or maybe, “Berlin could be the next European center for fashion,” if they were feeling more realistic. The sixth Berlin Fashion Week kicked off and if Berliners can look past all the pretty girls and boys, the glamour, the frocks and hype, they may find themselves wondering if their city really does have the right stuff to become “the next Paris.”

Even before the fashion shows started, there had been criticism of the way the event was developing. One of Germany’s best known designers, Wolfgang Joop, decided not to show his label, Wunderkind, at the event despite the fact that the 65-year-old designer actually lives and works on the outskirts of Berlin. (Joop sold his first label, Joop!, in 2001 and that label is taking part)

In an interview with the mass-circulation daily Bild, Joop, who is known for his less than diplomatic statements about everything from Angela Merkel’s décolletage to Hamburg’s sartorial habits, said that he feared the fashion shows in Berlin were turning into media spectacles, attended by B-list celebrities who were not even interested in fashion.

Also missing were the most important international fashion media, whose commentary and attention is required if the participating designers are to achieve vital international exposure. Last year, Berlin Fashion Week managed to entice Suzy Menkes, the respected

fashion editor of the Paris-based International Herald Tribune, to their shows. But Menkes is not returning for this round -- she is busy, attending the menswear shows in Paris.

It’s not the only competition the Berlin Fashion Week has in terms of scheduling. In Europe, there are also the Milan menswear shows. With the likes of big name brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent on the runway, both the Milan and Paris events are compulsory viewing for the most influential fashion media and buyers. And Sao Paolo and Hong Kong are hosting fashion weeks at the same time -- both have been going longer than the Berlin event, and are competing with the German capital to attract the attention of the same global tastemakers. Berlin Fashion Week has also attracted some unwanted local

controversy. Shortly before the event began, the Berlin government decided that this would be the last Berlin Fashion Week based at Bebelplatz, a public square in the historic city center. They were responding to criticism that a fashion event was being held on the very site of the infamous Nazi burning of around 20,000 books in 1933. In an open letter the anti-fashionistas urged that the square “remain free of trivial, mass gatherings.” The city eventually agreed, saying that no further “non-cultural events” may take place there.

The fashion industry may not be deemed culture by the Berlin government, but it can certainly mean big business for the city. While a fashion week is essentially a glorified trade show where designers show store owners and media what they hope to sell in a few months time, over the past decade or so it has become a business unto itself. Berlin’s fashion week is now run by the US-based company IMG, a sports and talent management and entertainment agency that organizes fashion weeks in New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Bombay and a handful of other cities around the world.

With fashion becoming something of a spectator sport, every major city wants its own runway shows that reflect its own marketplace. After all, not everyone can come to Paris -- and IMG has turned smaller shows into a profitable business. Designers pay to put on

shows, sponsors pay to be involved. And Daniel Aubke, the spokesperson for Berlin Fashion Week, reports that after five events, the sixth German event is now starting to turn a profit.

Additionally there is a lot of peripheral business being done in hotels, restaurants, bars and taxis; according to the Berlin tourism board, last year the average Fashion Week visitor spent around €240 per day. But is the increasing success of its fashion week putting Berlin on course to become “the next Paris”? In reality, no. It will always be extremely hard to compete with Paris, or even Milan, where fashion industries have been based for, literally, hundreds of years, where those industries are worth billions, employ hundreds of thousands and where, as a result, fashion is taken very seriously indeed. Designers want to show there for exactly that reason. In fact, even the big German labels, like Hugo Boss, show their premium stock there. While the Boss brand does take part in Berlin Fashion Week, but it presents a more affordable range. London is not quite at the same level, but it has a long tradition of anarchic creativity that tends to draw top buyers and media looking for the latest thing. Often the experimental young designer discovered in London goes on to work, and show, in Paris or Milan. Even within Germany a lot of the most prestigious magazines, most of which are based in Munich, did not send their editors-in-chief to Berlin for the shows. Instead they chose to send a more junior representative. But that is changing. This week, Aubke says, the editors-in-chief are all in Berlin. Additionally he believes local designers are more aware of what Berlin Fashion Week can do for them. They no longer automatically think they need to show their collections in Milan or Paris first. There is also a lot of serious business, worth millions, being done parallel to the official Berlin Fashion Week. Bread & Butter is the world’s largest streetwear trade show and it returned from Barcelona last year to sign a 10 year contract with the city of Berlin. In fact, Bread & Butter can safely be credited with bringing the real business of fashion, as well as serious international attention, back to the city on a large scale. Berlin also has the cultural capital that so many people want more of. Berlin Fashion Week is important, because it puts paid to the myth that there is no good design in Germany. And it gives established and younger designers a platform.

Fashion

Can Berlin Ever Be the ‘Next Paris’?


When you write down your shopping list, as you punch a phone number into your mobile, while you wash dishes, do the ironing, clean the windows, or do hundreds of other things that women do on any given day do you take notice of the condition of your nails?

Our hands are such an integral part of our daily lives, and constantly, we risk their health and strength, often without even noticing, because of the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day activities. Take a few moments each day, or at least a few times a week, to monitor the condition of your nails.

Great, Healthy Nails

Drink lots of water. Keep your body hydrated everyday to maintain healthy nails. Fortify your diet with FDA approved vitamins or supplements. Your finger nails count on you to be responsible with your health and your diet. Touch up your manicure on a daily basis to prevent chips and cracks. Your nails depend on you to maintain a healthy diet.

Nail polish tips:Finish with a clear topcoat to add gloss and sheen. Start with a base coat to strengthen and protect the nails.

To avoid breaking nails or brittle nails:Avoid using your nails as tools. This means no picking, scratching, digging, pinching, etc. You know who you are! Increase the amount of calcium in your diet. Use products containing alcohol, especially perfumed lotions, sparingly. These items can make nails prone to breaking. Wear rubber gloves when you do chores that involve continual submersion in water or contact with harsh detergents or chemicals.

Long Nails Long nails on women are considered sexy by many people, but there is caution. According to a study done by Shelly McNeil, M.D., an infectious-disease specialist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, nails longer than three centimeters (just a bit over one inch) are five times more likely than trimmed nails to carry the germs that cause staph and yeast infections.

Beautiful Nails Made Easy Everyone wants nails to be proud of so if yours are less than perfect here are a few quick tips to get them in great condition in no time.Apply nail varnish remover before doing your nails even if don’t need to remove any old polish, it prepares the nails by removing any grease so that your polish will last longer. Always wipe the top of the nail varnish bottle with a cotton bud to get rid of any excess polish, this will prevent the bottle from becoming glued shut. Remember it’s much better to apply lots of thin coats of colour rather that one thick one, it will dry quicker and last longer. Try not to remove and reapply polish more than once or twice a week, as it will dry out your nails. Choosing a remover with built in moisturisers will help limit the damage.

How To Give Yourself A Manicure Whether you prefer your nails to be long or short, they can still look stunning with a little know-how. 1. Wash and dry your hands. 2. Using a double-sided emery board, file nails using a gentle stroke. Avoid corners of your nails as this can weaken them. 3. Begin to shape your nails. The most popular shape to use is oval, but choose what is most suited to your hand and finger shape. 4. Check to see how well you have done. Run your nails over an old pair of pantyhose. Your nails should not snag the hose. 5. Apply a softener to your cuticles. Allow to soak for a minute or so.

6. Gently push back the cuticles. This should not be painful. If hangnails are present, carefully clip them. 7. Apply hand lotion and begin to massage the palm of your hand with the thumb of your other hand. This will help to circulate the blood. Work your way over the remainder of the hand and then repeat giving equal time to the other hand. 8. Before colour is applied to nails, they must be cleaned and the easiest way to do this is with an orange stick that has been wrapped with cotton. Dip into nail polish remover and then rub over the surface of the nail. Check the nail for any creamy residue. When none remains, your nails will be ready for polishing. 9. Time for colour. Pick up a small amount of polish on your brush and paint one stroke down the centre of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough colour to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done. The nail should be completely coloured in three strokes. Allow to set for a minute or so before applying the second coat. 10. Wait until polish is set (dry to the touch) and then apply the top coat. Don’t skip this step as it not only adds life to your manicure, it will protect your nails as well.

Health and BeautyTips to Keep Your Nails Strong and Sexy

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OHN TERRY girl Vanessa Perroncel’s ex Lee Latchford Evans from Steps says he ‘wasn’t famous enough’ for her

A ‘kiss and tell’ by our very own Lee Latchford Evans? No I really don’t think so as Lee is too much of a gentleman, however as the article says he was with Vanessa for two years.

Readers may recall that Lee came over to Gran Canaria to promote his FamouslyFit Club and now writes a fortnightly page, together with other OK celebrities, for The Canary News.

Former Steps star Lee Latchford Evans last night spoke for the first time about his relationship with Vanessa Perroncel – and revealed she was always after fame and money.The boyband star was with the French model for two years at the height of his career, giving John Terry’s lover her first taste of showbiz.He told how the 33-year-old made sure she was well connected. And he admitted that by the end, he may not have been quite famous enough.

Lee said: “Vanessa is the type that likes to be looked after, to be treated well. You have to have money to be able to do that. That’s what she always wanted. That’s what she’s about.“She was always going to move on to bigger fish. I gave her a taste of celebrity and she wanted more. Footballers earn hundreds of thousands a week. She knew how to climb the ranks.“She was always going to be with someone who could look after her and who was very good at what they do.“She found that with me and she’s found that with other people.”Lee and Vanessa first met backstage at a Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in 1999.

They were introduced through a mutual friend and Lee was immediately taken by her looks.He said: “She’s obviously a very beautiful girl. We got chatting about her modelling, I asked if she liked our act and we just hit it off.“I called her about a week later and asked her out on a date. We met in Leicester Square and watched a movie. I remember she was wearing a big silver Puffa jacket.“Me being me I was probably late which is never a good start is it?“It didn’t spark, it took a while before we became an item. It wasn’t love at first sight.”

Steps were at the height of their fame and Lee got recognised wherever he went. He took Vanessa to high-profile London premieres, including The Beach and Ice Age, where they were snapped together on the red carpet. On one occasion they were chased down the street by 40 paparazzi, which Lee admitted was “crazy”.He said: “I have never quite experienced the hysteria of the paparazzi as on that day. She didn’t know what to do with herself.”Lee, who was 22 at the time, described Vanessa as “very friendly and very smiley”.He said: “She was a typical girly girl who liked to look good and loved nice shoes and clothes and nail varnish.

“I would buy her handbags and clothes for her birthday or Christmas. She liked Prada.”

They went on two romantic holidays, to Dubai and St Lucia.Vanessa was “up for anything” and they swam and scuba dived and made the most of their times away. Lee said: “I remember one time we were in hysterics when my shorts came down as I went down the biggest water slide in Dubai.”Due to the nature of his job, Lee, 35, was away a lot touring with Steps and Vanessa visited her family in France, so the pair spent a lot of time on the phone and texting.

He said she accepted that and knew that as a pop star, he was never going to be at her beck and call. When he came home, they arranged to meet in Central London and stayed with each other when they could.They spent one romantic New Year together in the capital, wearing masks so they wouldn’t get recognised.

Lee said: “The lifestyle was so crazy that when I was back home we’d just have a quiet meal somewhere and go to the cinema. She liked Italian restaurants and would always have a few glasses of wine. Funnily enough, we never went to a French restaurant.“We tried to go to different ones so we wouldn’t get known in a certain place.”They stayed at each other’s houses about twice a week but struggled to have much privacy.Lee said: “It was difficult because we were both staying with friends, we didn’t have our own space. But when Steps toured in the UK, Vanessa would come to the gigs and then stay with me in the hotels afterwards. I’m not convinced it was her kind of music though.”

He said she was not really a big football fan and never expressed any love for any one team, though she was happy to watch games.Vanessa met all of Lee’s family and friends but was quite private about her own personal life and rarely spoke about it.Lee met her grandmother when Steps were touring in France and she was in Paris with her family. He said: “It was just a coincidence really but I left the band for a bit and we had dinner and spent a couple of hours together.”

Their relationship fizzled out in 2002, shortly after Steps went their separate ways.Lee was “gutted” but knew that they both wanted different things. He said: “It was very much a feisty, love-hate relationship. By the end, we couldn’t get on together and couldn’t get on apart.“We used to argue a lot. She would shout at me in French and it drove me mad.“It was so annoying. I used to put on my scouse accent to annoy her back so she

wouldn’t understand.“We tried to make it work but we got to the point where we both understood it was over. We lived the dream, we were the big pop star and the model on his arm, and we got caught up in that but ultimately, we had different goals.”

Lee said he had no doubt Vanessa knew exactly what she wanted and went for it. He told how she enjoyed the attention that came with being linked to a pop star and admitted he would never know whether she used him for the fame. Lee said: “I believe she would always have ended up with someone that was successful and would be able to look after her.“I would like to think she fancied me, even if I was a builder with my bum

hanging out of my trousers. But I am sure deep down it does help if you’ve a little bit of security behind you.“I don’t think she would have accepted anything else.”

Asked whether she was calculating enough to use him to get noticed, he said wryly: “Let’s not be naive. If someone is out there with a celebrity on her arm, of course they’ll get spotted.“I would like to think I was not used but I am not naive enough to say fame didn’t play a part.“We did live in a bubble 24/7. We were living the high life. Steps were very successful and I got recognised wherever I went.“Vanessa was

a model. She has done shoots and campaigns. She knows what it’s like to have her picture taken and be in the limelight.“She was used to that scene. It was her social circle. She would always be at these glamorous events. If she wanted to be looked after that’s her goal and that’s what she wants.”Lee said that he did love her but added: “Being in love is a very different question.“What I was actually in love with was the lifestyle. I had the gorgeous model on my arm, picked up by limousines every day.“I came from a very working class background. I was loving a life you only read about.“But our relationship was not the be all and end all. I knew she wasn’t the right one for me. We were not going to get married and have kids.”Exclusive By Victoria Ward – Daily Mirror

Lee Hits the HeadlinesFeature


Summer Sun Workout

OK! MAGAZINE FULL OF FAMOUSLY FIT PEOPLE!

Repetition

Amy Guy (aka Gladiator Siren) Louise Cliffe’s Top Health & Beauty Tips

• Put slices of cucumber on the eyes if they look tired and red

• Use vaseline to flatten down eyebrows and nourish eyelashes

• Use cold water for final rinse for ultra shiny hair

• Exfoliate bikini line before having it waxed for a smoother finish

• Wear handcream under gloves when washing up for a nourishing hand spa

• Tuck in the abdominal muscles• Raise the feet up, squeezing the bottom• Lower the legs with control

23Issue 16 - Friday 12th February - Thursday 25th February 2010

Our resident glamour model gives awaysome more beauty tips ...

Get Toned and Ready for Summer

with the Female Face of Famously Fit

starts a 5 part series to target those bits usually on show during the summer - legs and arms.

Apart from a small weight (a small water bottle will do) you don’t need any equipment, so you can do these anytime, anywhere!

I recommend 3 sets of 10 repetitions every single day!

Dumbbell Leg Curl - Back of Thighs

Step One

• Lie down on your stomach• Position a weight between your feet so that the top of the weight is resting on the soles of your shoes

Step Two• Fold your arms under your chin and relax your shoulders

Step Three• Squeeze your feet together and bend your legs so that the bottoms of the feet are toward the ceiling

• If you always tuck in your abdominals as you lift your legs, you get the added advantage of a great little ab workout• Don’t relax the bottom in between repetitions

Next week - Single Leg Bridge - Bum, Back of Legs and Core Muscles

Is The Steam Room Just “A Load Of Ole Hot Air”?Rest and recovery are an important part of health and fitness. Jenny and Wayne continue their three part seriesby exploring the benefits of hot air!

After workouts, we often use a steam room because we have heard it is good for us! And now we have done a bit of research which we want to share with you.

Sinus and Congestion Relief - Steam is a common treatment for colds and bunged up sinuses, very good for healing and preventing ear infections - but see Dr. Lidder’s comments below.

Skin Cleanse - Heavy sweating in a steam room cleanses your skin more thoroughly than soap and water because the hot steam opens your pores and allows the deep seated dirt to flush out and run free!

Skin Conditions - Helpful with treatment of acne and other skin conditions, so they say! Steam deeply cleanses the skin’s pores which may help with some skin conditions

Stress Relief - Steam rooms aide stress relief and help with a good night sleep. Calming misty hot atmosphere in a steam room combined with muscle relaxing properties of the hot steam create a perfect stress busting treat for anyone - speaking from experience!

Dr. J. Lidder, top Harley Street Medical Expert, endorses these benefits, but does warn that this environment can cause problems with skin fungal infections. He also cautions those with underlying medical conditions (e.g. blood pressure, thyroid problems and ear, nose and throat conditions) to seek medical advice.

Relief from muscle tension and stiff jointsThe heat in steam rooms relieves pain because heat causes blood vessels to expand and increases blood circulation, taking more oxygen and nutrients to damaged parts of the body

Helps repair damaged muscle caused by exercise - For the same reasons as outlined above - that is why many people use a steam room after a workout.

Lymph Detoxification - Mucous from the colon is easily excreted in a steam room according to some theorists and experts - not that I am going to try! And the sweating provides a natural detox.

DID YOU KNOW?

Top Tip

DID YOU KNOW? It is impossible for the majorityto lick their elbows… ... but a few can!

Of the billions of dollars spent on dietproducts, over 40% is spent on imitation fats & sugar substitutes!

Botanically speaking, the banana is a herb and the tomato is a fruit.


Community by Kay Owen

SO SANG the unique pop group ABBA back in the 1970’s. Some of the lyrics repeated over and over again simply state, “I believe in angels” along with the title words, “I had a dream”.

Over 70% of the population in a recent survey regarding “angels” said they believed in them... especially “guardian angels”.World renowned evangelist Dr Billy Graham wrote a book entitled “Angels” which sold over 3 million copies.

In it he calls them God’s ambassadors -ministering angels who give believers assurance that they are not alone- particularly in times of hardship and danger .Of course there is often a lot of ‘hype’ and emotionalism when dreams and all things celestial are on the agenda! But here is a heavenly, yet sobering and ‘down –to –earth’ story of someone who had previously been a sceptic, but who became eager to share his dream. A dream which made him count his earthly blessings, and after which he was able to state quite categorically... “I believe in angels.”

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, “This is the Receiving Section. Here is where all prayers and petitions are received”.

I looked around this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out requests – written both on voluminous sheets and little scraps of paper – from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then told me, “This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, Gods’ answers to the requests that people have submitted are processed and delivered to the persons who have been praying for them.” I noticed again how busy it was here. There were many angels working hard at that section, since so many things were being packaged in readiness for delivery to Earth.

Finally, at the farthest end of the long corridor, we

stopped at the door of a very small, quiet station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there –doing nothing. “This is the Acknowledgment Section”, my

angel friend quietly admitted to me. (He seemed a bit embarrassed). “How is it that there is no work going on here?” I asked.

“It’s so sad”, the angel sighed. “After people receive the blessings and answers to prayer that they ask for, very few send back thankful acknowledgments.”

“How does one do that?” I asked. “Simple,” the angel answered. “Just say from your heart, “Thank you God.”

“What sort of things should we be grateful for then?” I asked. “Well”, said my angel :- “If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world, who, relatively speaking, are wealthy.

“And if you own your own computer – as does the person who is typing this article – you are part of just 1% of people in the world who have the privilege of this unique form of communication.

“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the many thousands

who will not even survive this day.

“If you have never experienced fear in battle, loneliness of imprisonment, agony of torture, or pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.

“If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or even death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.

“If your parents are still alive and still married (to each other) ... you are very rare indeed.

“If you can hold your head up high with a genuinely happy smile, supposing this to be the norm (it is not), you are unique among millions of sad and downcast people who live constantly in fear, famine, doubt and despair.

“If you are able to read this you probably also have the ability to write, so you are twice blessed. There are over two billion people in the world who can do neither.” “Ok Kay! Enough is enough! After all this pontificating and swamping us with statistics – all be they very real - what do we do now?” you may be asking.

Well we could all start by counting our blessings, and when we realise how many there are, if we care to, we could give the angel in the Acknowledgement Section some work to do, by sending up a little note- saying something like:

“I now realise how much I have to be thankful for – so many privileges and blessings. Thank you God . P.S. Sorry for the delay in contacting your Acknowledgement Department – I think I only just got the message!” In the midst of a world which seems to live in a perpetual state of crisis, may ministering angels be a great comfort and inspiration to those who believe, and a thought-provoking challenge to those who don’t .

Kay Owen Jan 2010

I believe in Angels....

MY FRIENd Vikki is doing amazing work to help some desperately ill children and it’s very easy to help her.

Please consider doing so. The website below is supported by BBC Children in Need, a very worthwhile cause.Emily

Inspirational poem by Alice who is 13 and fighting cancer, it was written for a fundraising race

When I’m feeling tired and weepy and things aren’t going my wayI watch others take for granted that they’ll see another dayWhen I feel afraid and all alone and my mum feels this way tooI take a minute to reflect On the things I’d like to doI’d like to have a sailing yacht and travel oceans farLeave footprints sunken in the sandNo need to have a carBut for now my lines are busy taking chemotherapy

To help me in my fight against the cancer that’s in meI came here to this race today for those who fight like me Let’s join together, one BIG team’cos it’s not beating me! Childhood should be full of fun and laughter but for many every day is a struggle, their parents are watching on helpless, and their siblings have to take a place on the sideline. It’s a sad situation but YOU can make a difference! It doesn’t take a lot of

money or time you can do it by just sending a card, letter, email or gift to make them SMILE.What’s more precious than a smile? Just log onto www.postpals.co.uk and follow the “5 easy steps” on the home page, soon you will know that you have helped a family through the most difficult time imaginable.

A Worthy Cause


HoroscopesARIESMar 21 - April 20Be realistic this week... but not pessimistic. Wish-granting fairies may or may not exist but kind cosmic alignments most undoubtedly do. The sky has a gift in store for you.

TAURUSApril 23 - May 21Don’t fight the changes which are now unfolding. Change with them. The more you try to keep things as they are, the more threatened you will feel.

GEMINIMay 22 - June 21An intense alignment from Mercury to Mars warrants a reminder that when we get angry with others, we hurt something in ourselves. Psychological self-protection mechanisms come at a price

CANCERJune 22 - July 23Try not to compare yourself too directly to anyone else this week. Your situation may seem superficially similar but there is a deceptive difference. What works for another person may not work for you.

LEOJuly 24 - Aug 23Are you clever? Of course! Is that of any use? Well... ‘clever’ people are not necessarily any happier, wiser or kinder than the rest of us

vIRGOAug 24 - Sept 23Recall please, the last time you said ‘Right, that’s IT. I’m never, ever going to do this (or that) again.’ Dwell, for a moment, on how pleased you are that you made such a decision and how different life has been since then

LIBRASept 24 - Oct 23Is it better to have nothing than the wrong kind of something? A question like this can’t be answered until you consider three factors. How unsatisfactory is ‘nothing’, how ‘wrong’ is wrong and how likely is it.

SCORPIOOct 24 - Nov 22It is not always easy to distinguish a friend from an enemy. To truly qualify for either title, a person must be someone we know well - and have shared history with.

SAGITTARIUSNov 23 - dec 22Ancient spiritual wisdom teaches us to rise above our problems. We are encouraged to emulate the lotus flower that floats and blooms most beautifully above the lake, even though its roots are embedded in the mud.

CAPRICORNdec 23 - Jan 20In the college of human emotion, we are all first-year students. Even the Professors are just classmates who have learned the theory but have yet to pass the practical test. The courses don’t become more sophisticated as time goes by; they just get more challenging.

AQUARIUSJan 21 - Feb 19We fear what we do not understand. If we know how something really works, we know how to avoid it, or how to control it in some way. Ignorance, therefore, is not bliss. It is often the cause of unnecessary anxiety.

PISCESFeb 20 - Mar 20Is life all about innovation, experimentation and change? What’s wrong with the familiar, the traditional and the ‘tried and tested’? Nothing - as long as we are happy with it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY “ It only takes one deciding factor to change your entire life!

And to think it’s only a three letter word! Y-O-U!!!”

For excellent service, great prices and a wide range of flights to the UK & Ireland HALF TERM SALE 15th February to Birmingham €54 Cardiff €65 East Midlands €65 Manchester €51 20th February from Manchester €88 London Gatwick €99 22nd February London Gatwick €88 Plus many more flights, for a service you can trust make us your First Choice! All prices include 20kgs luggage allowance & 5kgs hand luggage plus all taxes. All prices are subject to availability and are correct at time of going to press.

Contact Wendy on 928 723 500 or Email [email protected] Visit us at Avda de Galdar 74, San Fernando

Help Beethoven use these clues below to decipher these popular Christmas/Holiday tunes.Example: A Triad of MonarchsAnswer: We Three Kings

1. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis.2. Frozen precipitation commences.3. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas.4. I envisioned a trio of marine vessels. 5. do you perceive the same longitudinal pressure that stimulates my auditory sense organs? 6. Leave and do a broadcast on an elevated peak.

Bonus: The apartment of 2 psychiatrists.

There was once a college that offered a class on probability applied to the real world.The class was relatively easy, but there was a catch. There were no homework assignments or tests, but there was a final exam that

would have only one question on it.When everyone received the test it was a blank sheet of paper with a solitary question on it: “What is risk?”Most students were able to pass, but only one student received 100% for the class! Even stranger was that he only wrote down one word!

What did he write?

If you throw me from the window,I will leave a grieving wife.Bring me back, but in the door, andYou’ll see someone giving life!

What am I?

1. Silent Night2. Let it Snow3. O Holy Night4. I saw Three Ships5. Do you hear what I hear?6. Go tell it on the MountainBonus: The Nutcracker Suite

Brain Teasers

The letter ‘n’.

wiNdow - widowdoor – doNor

The brilliant student wrote down:“This.”And handed in the paper.By doing this, the student demonstrated that he understood that having your grade based on one exam is risky.Plus, putting just one word on such an important exam and hoping the professor understands what he means is risky in and of itself


SportParalympic CurlingGB’S PARALYMPIC Curlers prepare for Winter GamesThree of the silver medal-winning squad from Turin in 2006 have been named on the Great Britain wheelchair curling team for the Winter Paralympics.

Scotland’s Michael McCreadie, Angie Malone and Tom Killen all have a chance to make up for defeat by Canada in a nail-biting final four years ago. They are joined by experienced fellow Scots Aileen Neilson and Jim Sellar.

The curling competition takes place from 13-20 March at the Vancouver Paralympic Centre.

The British team, which competes as Scotland at the World Championships were world champions in 2004 and 2005, and won world bronze medals in 2002 and 2007.

They finished fifth at the 2009 World Championships.

McCreadie will skip the team and says he is delighted with the honour.

“I make up 20% of the playing team and there are four others who are truly world class performers,” he said. “We have worked extremely hard to get back into winning ways, with the results from this year’s tour clearly indicating we are on the right track

Champions League

dAvId BECKHAM will not celebrate if he scores for AC Milan against Manchester United in the Champions League.

He will face his former club for the first time since leaving in 2003 when AC Milan host United on 16 February.

Beckham told Inside United magazine: “I do not think I would celebrate. I respect the supporters and the club.

“To me they are the best fans in the world and the support they gave me week in, week out was incredible. Nothing will ever better that.”

The midfielder, who is on loan at Milan from LA Galaxy, still remembers and appreciates the support given to him by United fans after he was sent off while playing for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. “The relationship I have with the fans is still important to me,” he said. “I went through some difficult times but they never stopped supporting me. “I would not have got through everything without them.”

Beckham played 394 times for United over eight seasons, helping the club win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions league.

British Olympic bosses step in to help skiers at Games

BRITISH OLYMPIC chiefs have guaranteed Team GB’s 14 skiers and snowboarders will compete in Vancouver despite their governing body, the BSSF, going bust.

A contingency plan has been put in place to make sure athletes have all the resources they need at the Games. “The athletes and coaches can rest assured that we will work around the clock to support them,” said British Olympic Association boss Lord Moynihan.

A BOA subsidiary will take over as governing body until after the Games.

With British athletes arriving at the Olympic Village in Vancouver on Friday and the Winter Games due to get under way on 12 February, Moynihan said: “It is with great regret that one of our governing bodies has gone into administration, particularly at such a critical time.”

The British Ski and Snowsport Federation struggled for some time, with some athletes having funding cut.

Snowboarder Zoe Gillings said of the BOA move: “It’s been a difficult time for a lot of snowsport athletes, and I’m very hopeful that this will be a very positive step forward for skiers and snowboarders alike.

“With the Olympic Winter Games just around the corner, this is welcome good news.”

Mark Tilston, the coach of top British skier Chemmy Alcott, told BBC Sport recently that coaches and skiers have had to pay for hotels and lift passes at races, and it was having a big impact on their Olympic preparations.

Poor winds delay Alinghi & BMW Oracle in America’s Cup

THE ABSENCE of favourable winds forced organisers of the 33rd America’s Cup to postpone the first race on Monday.

Swiss holders Alinghi and American challengers BMW Oracle were waiting off the coast of Valencia for almost four hours before heading back to port.

There have been 30 months of bitter legal battles over the rules which has added extra spice to this year’s three-race duel.

The race has traditionally been run in monohulls but this year both sides will sail multihulls for the first time.

Oracle’s trimaran is thought to have an advantage in heavy weather.

The weather could prove crucial, with light to moderate winds forecast - conditions that would suit the Alinghi catamaran. As a result of both teams racing multihulls, the boats - both 90 feet (27 metres) long - are bigger and faster than anything ever seen before in the Cup.

BMW Oracle, owned by US software tycoon Larry Ellison, claim their boat USA, featuring a wing-sail twice the size of that on a Boeing 747 plane, can reach speeds of 40 knots and slice along with one hull lifted 30 feet in the air.

“We have an insane boat,” crewman Shannon Falcone told a team blog.

Alinghi, meanwhile, backed by Italian-born biotechnology tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli, have put their faith in a tilting mast that towers 17 storeys high.

“There has never been anything like this. Size, power... it’s beyond anything that has been created before,” boasted helmsman Ed Baird.

Bertarelli added: “It’s going to be a formidable match because of the boats and the technology and perhaps because it’s a dog match.”

Rough estimates are that each side has spent $200m (£128m) on their campaigns, including hefty lawyers’ fees.

In the latest legal wrangle, Oracle accused Alinghi of breaking nationality rules by using US-made sails. The America’s Cup - international sport’s oldest trophy - was first raced for around the Isle of Wight in 1851.

The race is a straightforward 40-mile course of one upwind leg and one downwind.


Born: Andy Irons was born on July 24, 1978 in Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii and still resides there today. He grew up surfing Pinetrees (still one of his favourite breaks today).

Family: Andy Irons was married in November, 2007 to his longtime girlfriend Lindy. His younger brother, Bruce, is also one of the world’s most radical surfers.

Hobbies: Andy cites tennis and golf as favorite non-surfing activities. Stance: Regular (with emphasis on the front foot which gives him speed and agility in the gnarliest of conditions).

Sponsors: Andy Irons is sponsored by Billabong wetsuits and clothing. He wears Von Zipper glasses and guzzles Red Bull energy drinks while checking his time on Nixon watches and staying connected through Dakine leashes and traction pads.

Favorite Surfers: It’s easy to see Andy’s influences in his

surfing: Martin Potter, Occy, and Sunny Garcia.

Favorite waves: Backdoor Pipeline and Pine Trees (a shreddable Hanalei beachbreak where the Irons boys cut their teeth). Style: Andy Irons is a surfer with a style tailor-made for success in all conditions. Loose and radical in 2-20 feet with no fear and a mind’s eye for innovation, Andy Irons has become famous as the only surfer in history to consistently put Kelly Slater on his heels. Quick flicks are not an option for Irons. Instead, he opts for deep rail turns in the steepest and most powerful of sections. After three times a world champ, a stint as Slater’s only real competition, and an early reputation for explosive anger; Andy Irons took a break from competition in 2009 (still putting in outstanding performances all over the world).

By Jay DiMartino

Andy Irons

Born: Andy Irons was born on July 24, 1978 in Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii and still resides there today. He grew up surfing Pinetrees (still one of his favourite breaks today).

Family: Andy Irons was married in November, 2007 to his longtime girlfriend Lindy. His younger brother, Bruce, is also one of the world’s most radical surfers.

Hobbies: Andy cites tennis and golf as favorite non-surfing activities. Stance: Regular (with emphasis on the front foot which gives him speed and agility in the gnarliest of conditions).

Sponsors: Andy Irons is sponsored by Billabong wetsuits and clothing. He wears Von Zipper glasses and guzzles Red Bull energy drinks while checking his time on Nixon watches and staying connected through Dakine leashes and traction pads.

Favorite Surfers: It’s easy to see Andy’s influences in his surfing: Martin Potter, Occy, and Sunny

Garcia.

Favorite waves: Backdoor Pipeline and Pine Trees (a shreddable Hanalei beachbreak where the Irons boys cut their teeth). Style: Andy Irons is a surfer with a style tailor-made for success in all conditions. Loose and radical in 2-20 feet with no fear and a mind’s eye for innovation, Andy Irons has become famous as the only surfer in history to consistently put Kelly Slater on his heels. Quick flicks are not an option for Irons. Instead, he opts for deep rail turns in the steepest and most powerful of sections. After three times a world champ, a stint as Slater’s only real competition, and an early reputation for explosive anger; Andy Irons took a break from competition in 2009 (still putting in outstanding performances all over the world).

By Jay DiMartino

Sport

Wright gains Miami gold

Andy Irons


Steve Stricker beats Luke Donald for Northern Trust win

FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD:-16 S Stricker (US) -14 L Donald (Eng) -13 D Johnson (US), JB Holmes (US)Selected others: -3 J Rose (Eng) -2 P Mickelson (US) -1 B Davis (Eng)

Steve Stricker held off England’s Luke Donald to win the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles by two strokes.

Donald fired a 66 but Stricker’s 70 was enough for a 16-under-par 268 winning total as he deposed fellow American Phil Mickelson as the world number two. Dustin Johnson and JB Holmes shared third place on 271, with Mickelson 14 shots behind leader Stricker, who had started the round six shots ahead. “At least I gave him a run for his money,” Donald said of his late surge.

Stricker had put himself in a great position to claim his eighth US PGA Tour victory with 67, 65 and 66 in his previous rounds. But despite his commanding lead the last 18 holes proved a tense affair for the American.

“I aged a lot out there. It was a grind from the get-go,” said the 42-year-old, who missed a five-foot birdie putt on the easy opening hole and led by only two shots after five holes. Donald, who fired six birdies in his final round, had all the momentum on the front nine until missing consecutive putts from inside 10 feet.

A birdie on the 17th again saw him trim the lead to two, but that was as close as he would get. The 31-year-old from Hertfordshire, though, was understandably pleased with his effort.

“I felt like I played nicely,” he said. “I hit a lot of quality shots, felt very much in control and I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, gave myself a lot of good looks at birdies. “If I got really hot with the putter, I could have maybe caught Steve. He played nicely coming down the stretch, and I think he was a deserved winner.”

Stricker has been steadily rebuilding his career since losing his PGA Tour card in 2004. Last year he won three American PGA Tour titles and his sparkling form has continued into 2010 - tying for 10th in the season-opening SBS Championship

and coming third in the Sony Open. “If you look at his consistency and how much he’s won, then I think it’s deserved,” Donald said of Stricker’s new ranking. “It’s a great testament to his will. I can’t remember what he got to in the world rankings, 300 or 400 or something. “I think Steve is the nicest guy in the world, too, so it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

Mickelson, trying to become the first player to win at Riviera three years in a row, closed with a two-over 73 for 282 - tied for 45th.

Donald’s compatriots Justin Rose and Brian Davis were 13 and 15 shots off the lead respectively.

Rose ended the tournament with a 72 while Davis could not build on his third round 68 as he finished with a 73.

Avantha Masters to put India on the golfing mapges 2010

India returns to the golfing spotlight this week as The European Tour revisits the world’s second most populous country for the €1.5 million Avantha Masters.

Tri-sanctioned between The European Tour, the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the Avantha Masters will be staged at the DLF Golf and Country Club, the venue of the 2008 Johnnie Walker Classic, won by New Zealand’s Mark Brown.

For Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur, two of The European Tour’s most prominent Indian players, the Avantha Masters represents an outstanding opportunity for India’s emerging golfers to test themselves at the very highest level.

“It’s exciting to have The European Tour back in India,” said Singh, winner of three titles on The European Tour. “We have to take our hats off to Mr Gautam Thapar, the President of the PGTI for bringing such a big event back home. Our home players now have a great chance to rub shoulders with The European Tour players and gain some great experience. “When an event like this comes to India

it is a great chance for the guys to prove themselves on the big stage. We all know how high the standard is around the world now but for our players to get the chance to play against these guys in their own country is special.”

After witnessing the birth of his baby son less than two weeks ago, Singh is possibly the happiest man in golf at the moment and a fourth European Tour victory in his homeland would enable his dream life to continue.

“I can’t explain it,” said Singh when asked about becoming a father. “I’m so excited, in fact, I had tears in my eyes when I saw my son for the first time. It’s a great feeling. I don’t think you realise it until you have a child of your own. “My wife is doing well too, everything is under control, and the baby is doing fine, too. I can only thank God for this.” Kapur, meanwhile, is hoping to make his breakthrough at the top level to become the fourth Indian player in the Tour’s history to record a victory, joining Singh, Arjun Atwal and SSP Chowrasia on India’s roll of honour. “It’s very exciting to have a tournament of this stature in India,” said Kapur. “It gives the Indian Tour players and some of the younger guys back home a real opportunity to play a big event at home. For the younger players to be playing

in a European Tour event is a really big deal.

“The European Tour brings us a lot of exposure, from media and TV pictures going out to many different countries, and it will be very good for the growth of the game. This week is a showcase for us and a great chance to put India on the golfing map and that is a big step.

“Golf is the fastest growing sport in India. Obviously you don’t compete with cricket in India because cricket is a religion, but I would say that golf is probably the country’s second sport. That is a huge growth rate, especially in the last ten years or so, and we hope it can continue on a similar path.”

Another Indian player hoping to make The European Tour breakthrough this week is the DLF Golf and Country Club’s very own Jyoti Randhawa, a prolific winner in Asia and a player who has won the Indian Open on four occasions.

Randhawa and his fellow countrymen will have to overcome a high quality international field if they want to secure the Avantha Masters with the likes of Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and David Howell joining former Asian Number One Liang Wen-chong and a host of European and Asian Tour champions at the DLF Golf and Country Club.Provided by BBC Sports

Golf

29Issue 13 - Friday 18th - Thursday 31th December 2009 - The Canary Newswww.thecanarynews.com

PROPERTIES FOR SALE - AGENTSTAUROBungalow, 2 bed(s) In excellent condition499.500 Euros20327***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***ARGUINEGUíN, LOMA dOS LOMA vERdEApartment, 1 bed(s)Fabulous views253.000 Euros20862-AK***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***MOGáN, BARRANCOApartment, 1 bed(s)98.000 Euros20882-TB***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***ARGUINEGUíN, PATALAVACAApartment, 2 bed(s)150.000 Euros21116-AK***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***PUERTO RICO, CENTER LUQUILLOApartment, 2 bed(s)Very close to the beach145.000 Euros21184-LM***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***CASTILLO dEL ROMERALDuplex, 3 bed(s)Two steps to the sea189.000 Euros21203-DG***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***PUERTO RICO, WEST HILLApartment, 1 bed(s)Fantastic sea views85.000 Euros21453-LM***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980***

***Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***PUERTO RICO, CENTERDuplex, 3 bed(s)Family house - Excellent opportunity!155.000 Euros21470-LM***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***MASPALOMAS, EL TABLEROFlat, 2 bed(s)Nice Building175.000 Euros21556-SW***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***PLAYA dEL INGLéSApartment, 1 bed(s)90.000 Euros21564-AK***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980******Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com***—-----------------------------APARTMENT AT THE STREET DOWN TO THE BEACH! This apartment is renovated and furnished.It consists of: One bedroom, bathroom, livingroom, kitchen and large balcony. Very good location only a few footstepsto the beach. Price: 120.000 EurosEuropa Real Estate928 765 [email protected] dEL INGLéS,OUTSTANdINGBUNGALOWWITH GARAGE AT THEBEACH PROMENAdE. This unique dreamhouse with aprox. 100m2 living area and largeprivate garden consists of living-diningroom, kitchen,2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,large terrace and solariumwith spectacular view to thedunes of Maspalomas andocean. The bungalow isequipped with all luxury.Heated communityswimmingpool.PRICE:588.000, EurosEuropa RealEstate 928 765 [email protected] dEL INGLéS: Spacious, very bright and quiet one-bedroom apartment

in top- condition situated in a well maintained complex with parkinglots, swimmingpools and teniscourt and all amenities close. Price: 110.000,- euroPLAYA dEL INGLéS,TOPFLOOR APARTMENTWITH UNIQUE VIEWS.Breathtaking seaview to thedunes and lighthouse ofMaspalomas. Bedroom andlivingroom have access tothe exeptional large dobbleterrace with whole-day-sun.The beachpromenade is atone-minut-walking distanceand several shoppingcentres are nearby. Sufficientparkingfacilities available.PRICE: 126.000 Euros PLAYA dEL INGLéS,BUNGALOW WITH GARAGEExcellent and quiet locatedbungalow on a closed plotthat offers perfect privacy.It exists of: 2 bedrooms,livingroom, full fitted kitchen,bathroom, 2 large terracesand private garage. Thisrespected bungalow complexis very quiet and centricalsituated and has a large pooland tenniscourt. Lowmonthly community costs.PRICE: 276.000. Euros SAN AGUSTíN, GROUNdFLOOR BUNGALOW WITHLARGE TERRACE ANd

SEAVIEW. This bungalowforms part of a small privatecomplex with pool. The beachof San Agustín is only 3minutes walk away and alsothe shopping center isnearby. The bungalow consists of: 1 bedroom, livingroom/kitchen, bathroom and a terrace of 24 m2 with sea view to the beach of Playa del Inglés. The monthly comunity costs are only 40 Euros. PRICE: 138.000 EurosEXCELLENT LARGE APARTMENT IN SAN FERNANdOThis bright and spacious apartment of 82 m2, is completely and tastfully furnished and contains a living-diningroom, 3 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full-fitted-kitchen with separate laundry room and small patio. The monthly community fee is only 70.- €Price: 175.000.- EurosMASPALOMAS, LOvELY BUNGALOWWith one bedroom, large terrace and private garden. Completely furnished. Siuated in a small private and quiet complex with pool. Low community fees! Easy parking.Price: 138.000 Euros.PUERTO RICOBungalow with panoramic seaview over the beach and harbor of Puerto Rico.

100 m² Living-area, 3 bedrooms and 2 large sunny terraces. Parking-lot and Pool.Price: 330.000 EurosPLAYA DEL CURA, EXCLUSIvE APARTMENT WITH PANORAMIC SEAVIEWThis apartment has 72 m² livingarea and a large very private terrace of 36 m² with whole-day-sun. Bedroom and bath are ensuite. Situation and the use of only the most luxurious materials make this real estate to an unique exquisity.Price: 290.000 EurosSAN FERNANdO, CORNER dUPLEX FAMILY HOUSEThis very bright semi-detached house consists of: large livingroom, full-fitted kitchen with dining corner, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, several terraces with beautiful seaviews and a spacious independent (guest)studio. PRICE: 295.000,-- €SAN AGUSTíN, dREAM BUNGALOW with beautiful view over the ocean. 64 m² Living-area, 2 bedrooms, full-fitted kitchen, bathroom and 32 m²-large sunny terrace. Parking-lot and Pool. Monthly communityfee only: 78,- Euro. PRICE: 298.000,-- €Europa Real Estate: 928 765 [email protected]

-------------------------------------PLAYA dEL INGLéSBeautifully refurbished villa in the centre of Playa del Ingles. Very private property and not overlooked at all. This villa has a private solar heated pool and a barbeque area as well as a roof terrace. The villa is air conditioned and heated throughout and is also fitted with an alarm system. The property is sold fully furnished and ready to move into. Rare opportunity!Ref. PI640. Price: €565,000. Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comMASPALOMASBeautiful bungalow on a very quite complex in Campo de Golf. The whole complex has been beautifully reformed. The property could easily be made into a two bedroom. Large garden area and very well kept communal areas and swimming pool. There is also a children’s play area. The bungalow is sold furnished. Excellent value for money!Ref:MP634.Price:€120,000. Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comTAUROBeautiful villa in Anfi Tauro set between the two golf courses. Private pool with a decking

To place a classified advert, simply fill in the coupon on page 31 and drop off at Property Abroad, Aladdins Cave,Fuze Bar or Cafe Florin. See ads for locations. Email: [email protected] or Tel: 928 774 818

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CONTACT US TO SHARE YOUR NEWS AND CELEBRATE YOUR ANNIVERSARIES.SEE PAGE 31 FOR MORE INFORMATION


area and a barbeque area. This property has been refurbished and has the bedrooms adjoining. Marble floors throughout, air conditioning and heating, centralised vacuum system and even includes a jacuzzi in the main bedroom suite. All bedrooms are en-suite. Luxury accomodation in a very desirable area.Ref. TR632. Price: €985,000.Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comPLAYA dEL INGLéSBeautifully refurbished duplex with two bedrooms, 1 full bathroom and a cloakroom. Very homely feel and nice sized new kitchen. The property has a very spacious living area and is sold fully furnished. There are marble stairs and a beautiful ceramic flooring as well as air conditioning in all the rooms. Excellently situated only mins from the beach and the Yumbo shopping centre. Very quiet and well kept complex. Great value for money.Ref. PI630. Price: €168,000.Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comPUERTO RICOExcellent opportunty to buy two flats for the price of one! One bedroom apartment (also with smaller room which can be used as a small bedroom or an office) with a comletely seperate one bedroom apartment below. Either one can be rented out whilst you live in the other or they can be combined to make a nice size duplex. Communal pool. Great value!Ref.PR623. Price: €132,000.Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.com

PROPERTIES TO LETFOR RENT:

MASPALOMAS

Nice cosy duplex with garden area to the front. Completely refurbished throughout and fully furnished and ready to move into. Property of 60m2

and has one bathroom upstairs and another downstairs. Quiet complex in a quiet residential area.Ref:MP635a.Price:€500/month. Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comMASPALOMAS Very cheap rental for cosy bungalow in Maspalomas. Monthly rental price includes all bills. Nicely kept complex with swimming pool, childrens pool, childrens park, tennis court and gym. Only a few minutes walk to the Faro II shopping centre and about 15 mins walk to the beach.Ref:MP633.Price:€425/month. Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.com

LAS PALMASWonderful frontline apartment in Las Canteras. Well positioned building. Five minutes from the market, restaurants, bars and parks. Sea views. Wooden floors in the bedrooms, air conditioning, fully furnished with fully fitted kitchen and double glazing.Ref. LP585. Price: €1,300/monthTel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comPOzO IzQUIERDOFantastic Duplex in Pozo Izquierdo. The property has four bedrooms (the third bedrooms was turned into a dressing room), three bathrooms, a private garden and air conditioning throughout. Beautiful state-of-the art Italian kitchen. There is also a large garage as well as front and back terraces. Excellent condition.Ref. : PZ542a. Price: €950/monthTel. 928141202.

DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.comTAURITOApartment for rent in Playa de Taurito. The apartment has one bedroom , a kitchenette and a balcony. Located near to the beach and the resort centre, with its shops, bars and restaurants. The complex offers a swimming pool and a sun terrace. Price includes the costs for water and electricity. Sea views and views of Mogan in the distance.Ref. TR537. Price: €450/monthTel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.com

PROPERTIES TO EXCHANGEExchange wanted apartment/bungalow Gran CAnaria for apartment Paphos Cyprus 0035318461782 CAn be seen on Internet

FOR SALE

Electrical wheelchair, bought private and serviced in Vecindario ortopedic centre, in good condition. For sale 800€ (new 4000€) Contact 928562 311 or 606 060 264

WANTEDWanted R.H.D vehicle. I have L.H.D P/X Classic Chrysler

Baron, 2 door, auto. A.C. One lady owner. G.C. Reg I.T.V Nov 5.500€ Avd Canada 39,Tauro Country Club Anfi Golf

GOING OUT

ENTERTAINMENT

LEISURERoger’s Ramblers meet every Tuesday from Mid October to the end of April. On average walk is about 4 hours with areasonable amount of ascentand descent.All walks are free and at your own risk. If you areinterested contact Rambling Roger on928 798150 or 666 170 553,or by email [email protected]

EMPLOYMENT

Sales Consultant, would you like to work for the islands top english paper then send your CV to [email protected]

SERVICES

CHARITIESFree tandem bike rides for blind people or people with any other physical disability who are unable to ride a bike by themselves. Also free excursions into the mountains in my car for people in wheelchairs together with a companion. Minibus trips can also be arranged at an agreed reasonable cost. For more information call Franz at 699 124 985.WANTED. Second hand books, in good condition, to be sold in support of Registered Childrens’ Charities 1) RUBBISH DUMP CHILDREN in Cambodia 2) ORPHANS/ SCHOOLprojects in China. Please drop books off at Bar Wine and Marmalade, Arguineguin. donations gratefully received. Contact [email protected] Together we can make a differencedrinking Problem?International, Englishspeaking AA meetings everyFriday at the church in theKasbah (door on the lefthand side) Playa del Inglés,8.30pm. Monday 12pm inSan Fernando, behind Market Maspalomas and Tuesday 7pm at the Catholic Church (enter by the stairway on the right hind side),Behind the taxi rank next tothe police station.do you believe that you havea problem with alcohol?Perhaps you are looking orsome help? AlcoholAnonymous meet in Telde onMondays and Thursdays from20.00 until 21.30.Call 928 202 638TARA CAR-BOOT SALE

EVERY SATURDAY - 9 AMAT PLAZA DEL PINO,ARGUINEGUíNFree Entrance for shoppersand registered charity car-bootsellers. Non-charity sellersDONATE only 5 Euros foreach stall. Please bring yourown display supports. Comeand enjoy the friendlyatmosphere at the TARACommunity Car-Boot Sale tofind the best purchasebargains in town and helpabandoned and abusedanimals to boot.To donateuseable toys, clothing,household items, furniture,books, sportingequipment...WHATEVER...tohelp our fund-raising effortsplease contact us. ContactSanna Tel: 620 978 709;Email: [email protected] to pick up yourdonated items if you cannotdeliver them to the car-bootsale. Volunteers always gladlywelcomed.TARA Animal RespectAssociation, A registered,Non-profit Canarian AnimalCharity Tel: 607 671 617Email: [email protected]: www.tara-animales.orgArguineguin CulturalSociety meets everyThursday at Tío Pepe barfrom 20.00 at the C.C. Ancorain Arguineguín. As mentionedpreviously in TCN, the groupwere looking for a place tobuild up our string puppetstage and to train people inthe making and operating ofstring puppets. The group hasnow found a suitable placein Arguineguín and if anyoneis interested in joining themplease call Peter on 639 229414 and go to the meetingson Thursdays.Grupo Montañero deMogan. Every Sunday allthrough the year this group arranges guided walks inthe magnificent mountainsand beautiful valleys of GranCanaria. The walks areguided, and the memberscome from all over Europe,and also many Canarianmembers. Meeting place:Commercial Centre Ancora,Arguineguin. Time 08.00.Departure 08.15. Leavingfrom San Fernando (Viuda deFranco) 08.00 or 08.30. Formore information call before12.00 on Fridays 689 919 580Can you spare a few hourseach week to help feed strayand abandoned cats in SanAgustin? There are specialfeeding places, all the catsare sterilised, have namesand are very healthy. Of course, we will buy the cat food. We only want help to give the food to the cats.Please call Christina on 928770 019 for more information.Join the library inMaspalomas with your NIE number and passport and picture or residencia. No charge. English

Dana PtacinskyAsrilantLEGAL TRANSLATORAND INTERPRETER

C/Luis Doreste Silva 56,6º-2, 35004,Las Palmas de G.C.Tel: 686 412 [email protected]

Properties AbroadEstate Agents

PUERTO RICO

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&FINANCIAL

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(0034) 928 562 467Fax:

(0034) 928 562 454Email:

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Aladdin`s Cave

FLATS TORENT

1, 2 and 3Bedroom

�ats torent in

Arguineguinand

Puerto Ricofrom

600 Eurosall inclusive

Call618 647 027

Cafe FlorinCalle Alfreces

Prov. 29(opposite

Hard Rock cafe)

Ground �oorYumbo Centre

Playa delInglés

FUZE BAR

Wanted VillaFor Holiday Rental

19th June – 3rd July 2010Must be adapted tosuit wheelchair user

Min. 3bed,level entryshower room

Melonerasarea preferable

Contact:[email protected]

Property of the MonthUnder the Tuscan Sun

Apartment inSansepolcrofor saleFor enquiries contact

[email protected]

31www.thecanarynews.com Issue 13 - Friday 18th - Thursday 31th December 2009 - The Canary News

books and other European languages too. Also free internetaccess.!! The library hours are 8.00 am till 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm to 10 pm Monday toFriday. Biblioteca Municipal Maspalomas, Casa del Cultura Maspalomas, Avda De Tejeda 72 Phone 928 720 035Amigos contra el Sida is a charity that provides supportfor people with HIV and Aids and has information about sexually transmitteddiseases Amigos contra elSida - Friends against AidsAv. Alejandro del Castillo,Mercado Municipal, 2º floor San Fernando Maspalomas Contact: 695 578 004Timetable: Tuesday and Thursday - 9:00 to 15:00 hour. Amigos contra el Sida Calle El Escorial nº 7, VecindarioTeléfono: 928 149 570Timetable: Monday to Friday- 9:00 to 14:00 hour. Website:www.amigoscontraelsida.orgSupport Maria Templeman’s dog Rescue. You can find Maria’s stall in Arguineguin market on Tuesdays and Mogan market on Fridays.You can also find Maria inMaspalomas market next to the big, main flood light on Wednesdays and Saturdays.Money raised from Maria’sstall goes to funding dogrescue in Gran Canaria,including vet and kennel feesand re-homing dogs.

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For appointments please tel 928 561 771BUY, DONATE, SWA PBOOK LIBRA RY

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Cristina´s Mo neyExchange, Local 26 1 ,

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FARO 2 MARKET15 & 29 Nov, 13 Dec.

BOOKS sold insupport of Registered

Children’s Charities (Homeand Abroad) Over

500 books from 1 Euro. Alsobook donations wanted - can

collect - [email protected] or

drop books off at Wine and MarmaladeBar in Arguineguín

THE CANARIAN PROBREASTFEEDING

runs a Support Group everyWednesday from 6pm until 8pm at the Centro de Estancias Diurnas (the daycare centre for the eldery

behind the swimming pool) Anyone needing help and support concern-ing breastfeeding can also call 637 564 296 (leave a message if there

is no answer with nameand telephone number)

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FROM 4PM ONWARDSDifferent activities every week in the local Puerto Rico area - Meet othermums with children of all ages. Call Jo Pike on 639

153 547 You can evenleave a message on their

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Property Abroad Puerto RicoAladdin´s Cave Arguineguin

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Paradise Jewellers MoganThe Print Shop San Fernando

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Telephone : 928 141 202Mobile : 627 188 462

Price: 137,000€Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1

San Agustín

Fantastic bungalow for sale in San Agustín. The bungalow is

totally refurbished and has air-conditioning, fully equipped kitchen even with dishwasher.

Bungalow in very popular complex with heated pool, childrens area, pool bar,

supermarket and tennis court. Viewing strongly recommended.


Maspalomas

Unique opportunity to buy this spacious property which is very well situated only 100m from the shopping centre in Maspalomas in a quiet and secluded complex. The bungalow consists of 2 large

double bedrooms, 1 of which has its own walk-in wardrobe

and a very high quality en-suite bathroom including double sinks.


Puerto Rico

Beautiful apartment for sale in Puerto Rico.

The two bedroom apartment was recently refurbished and

has a private terrace (20m2) with seaviews.

Complex with communal swimming pool.

Price: 2000€/monthBedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

Fantastic Villa for rent in Barranco del Cura. Spacious bedrooms, marble bathrooms and wooden floors throughout. Fantastic seaviews and views over the mountains. Private

swimming pool and garden. No community charges. Free

Internet access and cleaning included.

Playa del Cura


Very centrally located one bedroom apartment for rent in Playa del Inglés. Only a few minutes from the shopping centres. The complex has a

communal swimming pool which is climatized during the winter months and a childrens pool

surrounded by nice gardens and a terrace.

Playa del Inglés


Apartment for rent in Puerto Rico. Complex has

swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, reception,

supermarket, childrens park and minigolf.

The apartment is only available until June.

Puerto Rico

edition 16

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