Edition 17 Mar Menor Focus MARCH 2010

IssIssuu e 17e 17March 2010March 2010

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Calblanque see page 3 TTraders Directorraders Directoryyand Index on page 25and Index on page 25

Salinas del Rasall

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Calblanque, a gorgeous natural paradise nearthe Mar Menor, is one of the few stretches ofMediterranean coastline to have survivedunspoilt – and other than high summer, virtuallyundiscovered. Thirteen kilometres of quietcoves, sandy beaches and rare fossilized dunesare set against a backdrop of pine forest andcraggy hills, criss-crossed with excellent walk-ing trails that offer beautiful panoramas atevery turn. Salt lagoons attract a wealth of birdlife, while the cliffs and hills are home to sev-eral unusual species of flora and fauna. A sec-tion of the GR92, a long-distance walking path,snakes along the entire length of theCalblanque coastline.

Top 10 Features1. BeachesCalblanque’s beaches are the most beautiful inMurcia. Long stretches of golden sand areinterspersed with small coves, overlooked byrippling dunes and cliffs. Most popular – yetstill uncrowded – are Playa de las Cañas, PlayaCalblanque, and Playa Larga.2. DunesWooden walkways traverse Calblanque’s frag-ile dune system, fossilized over millennia andsculpted by wind and sea into spell-bindingshapes. The best back onto Cañas, Larga andNegrete Beaches.3. CovesThe entire 13 km (8 mile) length ofCalblanque’s coastline is pocked with dozensof tiny coves, where the turquoise waters areperfect for diving and snorkelling. Even in theheight of summer you can pick your way acrossthe rocks to find one all to yourself.4. Walks and RidesThe Calblanque Natural Park is covered by anetwork of walking and mountain-biking trails,outlined in leaflets available at the park infor-mation office (summer only).5. Flora and FaunaIn spring, the hills of Calblanque are carpetedwith wild flowers. Among the pine forests arerarer trees, including one of the last survivingcypress groves in Spain. Foxes and badgers arecommon; you may even spot the endangeredtortuga mora (sea turtle).

6. Bird LifeCalblanque is particularly rich in bird life.Among the species you may encounter areBonelli’s eagle, the eagle owl, Audoin’s gulland the green woodpecker, as well as flamin-goes and several varieties of heron and plover.7. Salinas del Rasall (cover picture)Still used for commercial salt production, thesalt lakes of Rasall are a major nesting area foraquatic resident and migratory birds. Thewaters contain the brilliantly striped Fartet, anunusual and endangered fish.8. Old MinesOn the outer fringes of the park you will see theghostly remnants of abandoned tin, silver andcopper mines.9. CliffsCalblanque’s rugged yet ethereal cliffs offerspectacular views along the whole coastline.10. Mountain PeaksThe mountains of Calblanque rarely rise above300 m (984 ft), yet they offer breathtakingviews across woods and out to sea.

Directions:Take the Cartagena–La Manga motorway, leav-ing at the Calblanque exit about 1 km (half amile) after Los Belones; and follow the unmadetrack to the right - this is the sole entrance/exitto the area.At the end of this long straight track, there is afork - up and to the left will take you roundtowards the Salinas del Rassall, down and tothe right heads towards the beaches. Bothtracks are narrow, often with steep drops at thesides, but hold your nerve and you will come toone of the information areas, with locationmaps and carparks. Leave your car here andenjoy the walks.

CCaallbbllaannqquuee


For information on our newDigital Print-on-demand service, ‘FocusPRINT’

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We can use artwork provided by you, or designyour advert using text & images approved by

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of €10 for this service)Prepayments for 3, 6 & 12 months will qualifyfor 5%, 10% and 15% discounts respectively.All prices quoted are subject to IVA @ 16%.

Our deadline for adverts, to ensure insertion inthe next issue is the 20th of the month.Payment, in full, is required prior to the

advertising deadline.Disclaimer: ‘Mar Menor Focus’ does not accept responsibility for the standardof goods or services given by it’s advertisers and does not endorse, unless statedotherwise, any company or individual published in the magazine, or any views or

opinions expressed in any articles. ALL THE ADVERTISEMENTS designed by the Mar Menor Focus magazine

for use in its publication remain the property ofMar Menor Focus and may NOT be reproduced in any other publication

without our prior written consentPublished by Robert McKinley, C/Himilce, Cartagena, Murcia 30385. X5128759N.

DEPOSITO LEGAL MU-2307-2008

Distribution points include:Bars, Restaurants, Golf Clubs, Shops, EstateAgents, Tourist Offices, Post Rooms, Tabacs,Supermarkets and more, throughout the Mar

Menor area, coastal and inland.Advertising Rates

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WWeellccoommee to the March edition of MMaarr MMeennoorr FFooccuuss,

tthe magazine for the Mar Menor coastal area,

Thank you to our readers for their continuing support and feedback, and our contributors forsharing their knowledge of the area, its historyand culture, allowing us to keep the magazine

informative and interesting for everyone. Our website has everything in the magazine, and

more! Every edition is archived, so you canalways refer back - check it out on

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Why Use Resort ChoiceEstablished for over 5 yearsFully licensed for management and rentalsFull insuranceMulti-lingual staff and websitesRegistered with Murcia tourist boardOffice based All keys locked away and alarmedAccept all major credit cardsAll work guaranteed and invoicedEach property certificated with Murcia tourist boardState of the art reservation software in many languagesRental contracts with leading reservation agenciesEmergency cover 365 days a year, 24 hours a dayMembers of PNAG rental guarantee programmeHard working and honest

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Resort Choice (Resort La Manga SL)Avda. Mar Menor, Edif, Geranio Bajo 14, 30384 Mar de Cristal, Cartagena, MurciaCompany Reg No. B30780316 – Registro de Empresas y Actividades Turísticas A.MU.209

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Police in Spain - The Different Types of Spanish Police

Few things can confuse people moving to Spainmore than the different Spanish police forcesthat exist throughout the country - each ofwhich wears a different uniform and each ofwhich has a different ambit of operation fromthe other force!

Of course, most people can recognise theGuardia Civil in their green uniforms and(when on ceremonial duty) black tri-cornerhats. However, who are the other police andwhat do they do? In fact, you may ask (as manydo!), are the Guardia Civil really the terrifyingguardians of Spain's Francoist past and likely toknock on your door at any moment and removeyou swiftly to some dark prison?

The truth is that the Spanish police is essential-ly composed of three forces: the Guardia Civil,the Policia Nacional and the Policia Local. I say'essentially' because the Basque country,Catalonia and Navarra all have their ownregional police forces - all of which, in theseareas, are in place of the Policia Nacional. Thethree main forces are:

1. Guardia Civil. To all intents and purposes theGuardia Civil are a conventional police forcewho operate in exactly the same way as thepolice of any other modern European country.They have the resources, powers and facilitiesof a normal police force and are generallyadmired within Spain for their high level of dis-cipline and professionalism. Whilst they are amilitary force (with military ranks) in peace-time they act under civil authority and have noextraordinary powers.

Importantly, the remit of the Guardia Civil is topolice rural areas and towns under around20,000 people. So, they do not operate in urbanareas with a population over approximately20,000 people. If you suffer a crime or youneed police help in a rural area of Spain then itis the Guardia Civil to whom you must turn -and who will attend to the investigation of anyproblem.

In normal circumstances some 40% of theSpanish population live under the protection of

the Guardia Civil, although this percentagerises to around 65% during the summer holidayseason - when many 'urbanites' leave the townsand cities for the coast and the countryside.

2. Policia Nacional. The Policia Nacional arenormally dressed in black uniforms with whiteshirts but they can be seen also wearing blue,military style uniforms. Like the Guardia Civil,they are a conventional police force - albeit thatthey are a completely civil force with civil(rather than military) ranks. It is to them thatyou must go if you suffer a crime or need policehelp within an urban area - and it is only thePolicia Nacional who will respond to (or inves-tigate a crime) in a town of some 20,000 peopleor more.

3. Policia Local. Finally, there is the PoliciaLocal. This is a force which is recruited, fund-ed and controlled by local town halls and that isresponsible to the elected Mayor (Alcalde). ThePolicia Local wear blue uniforms with whiteshirts and respond to minor crimes. Mostly thePolicia Local deal with local authority enforce-ment matters, together with urban (city, town orvillage) traffic control and any associated viola-tions. Crimes are not investigated and any seri-ous matter is immediately handed over to eitherthe Guardia Civil or Policia Nacional - asappropriate to the demographic area.

Almost all Spanish police are armed althoughoccasionally this is not the case with villagePolicia Local.

In my experience the Spanish police that I haveencountered from all three forces have beenefficient, understanding and correct. That said,

by Nick Snelling

they seem to take a 'no nonsense' approach totrouble and should never be treated withaggression. However, at all times, I have foundthem helpful and prepared to provide the assis-tance I required. This is particularly true of thePolicia Local who seemto be invariablycharming.

In fact, the police in Spain are generally a cred-it to the country and act just like any policeforce in Western Europe. This is as true for thePolicia Nacional as it is for the Guardia Civil.So, if you want to move to Spain, you can feelcomfortable with the Spanish police and theprotection that they afford.

Finally, if you are in Spain and you need thepolice then:

For general emergencies call: 112 To report a crime call: 902 102 112 Guardia Civil: 062 Policia Nacional: 091 Policia Local call: 092

Nick Snelling is a journalist and the author offour books - including 'How to Move Safely toSpain'

HOW TO MOVE SAFELYTO SPAIN

is critical reading and a bookabout Spain that will providethe guidance, advice and helpthat you need to make your lifein Spain, or your move to Spainsafe and successful – for thelong term.

Read more articles by Nick Snelling at:www.EzineArticles.com


Notice To All Dog OwnersDo you want to go away?

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Please NoteThis is a private house in Playa Paraiso, not kennels

Established 4 years, References availableTel Joanne 620 460 557

New activities in Los UrrutiasA group of neighbors are organizing newactivities in this town. Recently aerobicclasses (Monday and Wednesday 10 to 11am) and fitness classes (Tuesday & Thursday3:45 to 4:45 pm) have begun in the SocialCenter (all ages and levels of fitness are wel-come). Now we need your ideas for otheractivities in this area (games, entertainment,workshops, courses,...). Ideas for inside oroutside activities will be considered.Suggestions and more info: 654 332 214


Jamon Serrano is the delectable curedSpanish ham that any visitor to Spain is sure tohave encountered at one time or another. Inmany bars you will see these serrano hamshanging from the ceiling and also displayedprominently on a special stand known as ajamonera in the perfect position for cutting.This in itself is something of an art as jamonserrano is never cut with a machine but alwayswith a knife and the exact thickness is of greatimportance.

"Serrano" means "from the mountains". Theham has this name because its origins lie in themountains and in the time before refrigeratorsthe slow process of air curing was one of thebest ways to preserve the meat.

To make a serrano ham you take a nice fat pig'sleg, rub it with salt and hang it in a cool, aireyplace. Traditionally the making of jamon serra-no sometimes also known as jamon iberico,would start in the autumn after the slaughteringof the pigs once the weather had cooled down.They are then hung out to dry in a place wherethere is minimal water but where the wind canget at them. The curing process is finished bythe summer by which time the ham will havelost about a third of it's weight. The longer theham is cured the better the flavour and in fact itcontinues curing until it's finally eaten.

Pata Negra.A pata Negra is the ham most correctly termedjamon iberico as these Spanish hams comefrom the Iberian pig, a black pig descendedfrom the wild boar. They were once the pre-dominant race in Spain but are not so commontoday, being mainly found in Andalucia, andtheir hams are highly prized.

The pigs that produce Jamon Serrano are pas-ture fed on acorns and it is this natural rearingwhich is so important in giving the meat it'sdelectable and unique flavour. In today's healthconscious world they are to be valued as a meatlow in saturated fats and cholesterol and assuch are an important part of the healthyMediterranean Diet.

Serrano ham contains a high level of oleic acid,a mono-unsaturated fat which can have theeffect of lowering cholesterol levels and hasalso recently been proved to have anti cancerproperties. This is the oil found in olive oil.which has also been receiving very goodreports in the health press in recent years.

So next time you are in Spain be sure to trysome Jamon Serrano, I am sure there isn't a barin the land which does not serve this wonderfulham. Try asking for a catalan which is a bocadil-lo, or large roll, served with jamon serrano,cheese and olive oil.

by Ruth Polak www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com

As a delicious tapa try the ham: with cheese - for the best flavours try

manchego cheese or the stronger goats cheeseknown as "cabra"

with olives - a true Spanish favourite andserved in every tapas establishment in Spain.

with melon - the combination of flavourswith Serrano ham are superb.

with almonds - ideal with both Serrano andiberico hams the nutty flavour compliments theham slices perfectly.

with broad beans - "habas" or fresh broadbeans are an essential ingredient for everytapas bar and the flavours work especially wellwith a stronger Serrano ham reserva.

and of course with red wine - a good riojacompliments a well cured ham to perfection,works especially well with iberico hams wherethe combination results in one of the worldsfinest gastronomic treats.

Jamón Serrano


The aim of the sudoku puzzle is to insertnumbers in the boxes so that:each row, column and 3x3 boxcontain one each of the digits 1-9

sudoku

A Codebreaker is a crosswordpuzzle with no clues! Instead,every letter of the alphabet hasbeen replaced by a number,the same number representingthe same letter throughout thepuzzle. All you have to do isdecide which letter is repre-sented by which number! Tostart you off, we reveal thecodes for two or three letters.When these letters have beenentered throughout the puzzle,you should have enough infor-mation to start guessing wordsand discovering other letters.

Codebreaker

A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

TIME FOR A BREAK


Línea Directa continues to growAccording to data compiled at the end of the fiscalyear, Línea Directa Aseguradora, a market leaderin direct motor and home insurance in Spain, wasthe only company in the top 19 motor insurers toshow a positive growth in 2009.

In a very complex economic situation where theinsurance sector has fallen by some 5.4%, LíneaDirecta has recorded a turnover of more than �661 million, which is a 2% increaseon the previous fiscal year. The company has also increased its number of new poli-cies by nearly half a million and now boasts more than 1.7 million customers – 63,000of whom are expatriates.

In fact, Línea Directa closed the year 2009 with the best sales figures in the historyof the company. Not only did it see some 480,000 policies sold in Spain, but its MotorInsurance increased its turnover by 1% and its Home Insurance by 150%. This showsa huge growth in the potential of the company as a whole.

Due to the success of the business model that Línea Directa has implemented and fol-lowed since the launch of the company, this very-high ranking insurer has shownthat it is still continuing to maintain its excellent record and quality of service.

The direct insurance model that it employs is exempt of intermediaries, which iswhat makes it possible for Línea Directa to offer extremely competitive prices. Inaddition, it reaches the best customer satisfaction rates, which is a result of its highlevels of quality in all its products and services.

It is as a result of all of these factors that Línea Directa has sustained its position asthe market leader in direct insurance and – after only 15 years in the sector – isalready ranked fifth among motor insurance companies in Spain.

A service entirely in English and GermanLínea Directa’s International Department allows the company to offer all of its serv-ices in both English and German to foreign policy holders residing in Spain. As aresult, customers can take out a policy, make any type of enquiry, present a claim,request and receive documentation and enjoy 24-hour assistance in either language,during one single call. What’s more, it also offers policy holders an advisory servicewhen dealing with repair garages.

About Línea Directa AseguradoraLínea Directa Aseguradora, 100% owned by Bankinter, is currently the fifth largestmotor insurance company in Spain, specialising in direct car, motorbike, companyfleet and home insurance.

For more information call 902 123 104.


Clodagh and Dick are authors of three books: 'Your Garden in Spain', 'Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain' and 'Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain'.

These can be obtained from bookshops and via www.santanabooks.com or - www.gardeninginspain.com.

Your Garden can help to get a SaleYour Garden can help to get a SaleBy Clodagh and Dick Handscombe,

Practical gardeners & authors, living in Spain for twenty five years.

Recently even people who have dropped theirasking price by up to fifty percent don't get asniff of a buyer and when sales are achieved itis often a well thought out and maintained gar-den that tips the scales.But is that is surprising? No, for two reasons. Firstly the main reasonmany people think of coming to Spain is thepossibility of living outside for most of theyear. Secondly many gardens are not designedfor outdoor living and do not look appealingespecially in the winter. Recognise that a wellplanned garden can result in the exquisitelydesigned, decorated and furnished house onlybeing used for a few hours a day from Springto Autumn and for entire days only on the cold-er wetter days of winter. So we highlight someof the garden related things you can do inMarch to present your property as an attractiveproposition.Some practical tasks for MarchAs with the interior of the house potential buy-ers will be attracted by a tidy uncluttered gar-den that suggests that maintenance will bemanageable with or without the help of a gar-dener. As a minimum ensure that the followingare done and maintained so that a good imageis presented at all times to unexpected potentialbuyers.1. Ensure that the swimming pool and jacuzziare kept pristine even if you normally give itlittle winter attention.2. Keep all paths and terraces swept and edgingplants trimmed neatly back. If the surfaces looka little dirty and mossy clean them with a pres-sure hose.

3. Re-point damaged surfaces and the facingof garden walls, also repaint garden walls.4. Prune back straggly plants and deadheadplants that continue to flower.5. Complete the major winter cutback as soonas possible explaining to potential buyers thatyou are doing it to improve the shape, sizes andspring/summer flowering potential of plants.What to do is explained in Chapter 6.9 of 'YourGarden in Spain'.6. Tidy the garden shed, clean tools and removesmelly out of date and/or leaking chemicalproducts.7. Check that the watering system is workingeffectively. Turn off unnecessary tubes and dripjets and stop leaks..8. Clean up potted plants and their pots or con-tainers.9. Tidy the area around the compost heap.

Beyond a tidy garden recognise that somepotential buyers will look for simplicity andminimalism and others a more complex holis-tic style of garden, in many cases wanting togrow healthy ecological fruit and vegetables.We hope the above ideas speed your propertysale.


The FThe Fun Quizun QuizGeneral KnowledgeGeneral Knowledge

1. Which Verdi opera is set in Berkshire?

a) Falstaffb) Aidac) Luisa Miller d) Otello

2. What type of vegetable are Ailsa Craig,Bedfordshire Champion and Buffalo?

a) Carrotb) Onionc) Marrowd) Radish

3. For which Test Cricket team did Sir Frank Worrell play?

a) Australiab) South Africac) Englandd) West Indies

4. Which weapon did the British Army finallyabolish in 1927?

a) Pike b) Lancec) Musket d) Bayonet

5. What appeared in The Times newspaper forthe first time in September 1860?

a) Classified Advertisementsb) Crosswordc) Weather forecast d) Horoscope

6. The 2001 Census of the UK revealed390,000 followers of which religion?

. a) Jedib) Druidismc) Divine Lightmissiond) Wiccan

7. According to publicity, what is made inScotland from girders?

a) Iron Brub) Haggisc) Whiskyd) Curling stones

8. For what is Anthony Gormley most famous?

a) The Angel of the North statueb) Devising the numbers layout on a dartboardc) A past President of the NUMd) Walking a Loch Ness underwater marathon

9. On which cathedral is England's tallest spire?

a) Winchesterb) Coventryc) St Paul'sd) Salisbury

10. Which tower is located at the centre of theTower of London?

a) The Bell Towerb) The White Towerc) The Bloody Towerd) Wakefield Tower

11. Which art gallery stands in Millbank,London?

a) The National Galleryb) The National Portrait Galleryc) Royal Academy of Artsd) Tate Britain

12. The Letters YKK appear on nearly everywhat?

a) Microwave ovenb) Zip fastenerc) UK 3-pin plugd) Shoe lace

1) a. Falstaff. 2) b. Onion. 3) d. West Indies. 4) b. Lance. 5) c. Weather forecast.6) a. Jedi. 7) a. Iron Bru. 8) a. The Angel of the North statue 9) d. Salisbury.10) b. The White Tower. 11) d. Tate Britain. 12) b. Zip fastener.

Answers


Iberbrit LegalSolicitors and Chartered Accountants

CONVEYANCINGMADE SIMPLE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:Phone: +34 968 337 392

Fax: +34 968 563 224email: [email protected] - www.iberbrit.com

Conveyancing.Integral Tax advice for Individuals and Companies.Annual Tax returns for property owners.Social Security advice.Spanish Wills.

Preparation of the NIE-Identification number of foreigners.Spanish Residency.Financial advice “Mortgages”Power of Attorney.

OURSERVICES

Iberbrit Legalare located on La Manga Strip at:Gran Via s/n – Km 1.5, Edificio Monterrey – Iberbrit Legal office, PO BOX No. 163 – 30380 La Manga – Cartagena


Local MarketLocal Marketss

MondaySan Pedro delPinatarSucina

TuesdayLos BelonesLa UnionPilar de la HoradadaLos AlcazeresMil Palmeras

WednesdaySantiago de laRiberaSan Javier

ThursdayLos UrrutiasLa palmaTorre Pacheco(Balsicas)San Pedro delPinatar (Lo Pagan)

FridayEl AlgarLlano del BealPilar de la HoradadaSan Javier Autocine(car boot sale)

SaturdayLos Alcázeres (LosNarejos)Torre Pacheco(Dolores)

SundayCabo de PalosLos NietosSan Javier AutocineTorre Pacheco(Roldán)


Across1. Wickered light (6)4. Stand down as king orqueen (8)9. A single strand (6)10. Patting the dog (8)

12. Eyes wide .... (4)13. Twelve (5)14. It assists digestion (4)17. Lacking feeling (12)20. Study of the great seas (12)23. Country of Basra andBaghdad (4)

24. Handler of stolen goods(5)25. Wealthy (4)28. Midlands city ofWarwickshire (8)29. Mad man (6)30. longing (8)31. A place to pass water (6)

Down1. Roman religion (8)2. Vikings (8)3. Shakespearean King (4)5. Sweet type of toffee (12)6. A symbol (4)7. Bird house (6)8. Power generator (6)11. Geometric figure with 12sides (12)15. An age (5)16. Each and all (5)18. Eye doctor (8)19. Of fantastic proportions (8)21. Bay off the coast of France(6)22. Type of plant (6)26. Unknown Author (4)27. Reasonable (4)

TIME FOR A BREAK

La Manga - Santiago de la Ribera Ferry Winter timetableLa Manga Santiago deTomas maestre la Ribera

10.3012.3014.3016.30

11.3013.3015.3017.30

Monday to Saturday

crossword puzzle


Crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers,can confirm that one of the most wantedindividuals from the latest OperationCaptura appeals, Jody Flynn fromMerseyside, was arrested on Friday 19February as he attempted to enter thecountry from Spain at the port of Doverusing an alias. [23 February 2010]

Flynn, born in Birkenhead in 1981, waswanted by Merseyside Police in connectionwith one grievous bodily harm (GBH)offence and had been on the run for over ayear. He is accused of causing GBH withintent and unlawfully and maliciouslyinflicting GBH.

This latest arrest means that 50% of thelast batch of Operation Captura appeals,announced on 23 September in Malaga,Spain, has been brought back to justice.

Crimestoppers’ Founder and Chair, LordAshcroft, KCMG said: “The exposure thatthese appeals have had, largely thanks tothe media, has meant that we are nowflushing dangerous criminals out of hiding.

"Absolutely delighted"

“Crimestoppers and the Serious OrganisedCrime Agency are absolutely delighted thatwe have now had 31 arrests out of a possible50. This campaign is clearly working for lawenforcement but not for the criminals.”

David Armond, International Director forSOCA said: “The continuing success ofOperation Captura demonstrates howcooperation between the public and lawenforcement can make life uncomfortablefor criminals living overseas. These fugitivesare significant criminals who may be hidingin the ex-pat community or mixing withBritish tourists - the attention focused onthem by this campaign, combined withinformation from the public, can be the keyto making sure they can’t escape justice tolive life in the sun.”

Operation Captura identifies seriouscriminals wanted by UK law enforcementagencies for crimes committed in the UK.Crimestoppers and the SeriousOrganised Crime Agency (SOCA) workclosely with British Embassy Madrid,British and Spanish law enforcementagencies. The campaign highlightsappeals for information on criminals whohave European arrest warrants issuedagainst them for crimes such as drugtrafficking, murder and sex offences.

Calls to the freephone Spanish telephonenumber 900 555 111 are answered in theUK by Crimestoppers’ call agents and atranslation service is available uponrequest. People can also pass on informationanonymously via the online GivingInformation form on the Crimestoppers’website.

Most wanted fugitive arrestedon entering UK

Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes,making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our websitewww.crimestoppers-uk.org

Around 20 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of informationgiven to Crimestoppers. One person every five days is charged with murder.


Mar Menor Focus Business DirectoryYour business here for just 60 euros a year!

Call Mar Menor Focus on 968 145 572 or email: [email protected]

STARAIR, Air Conditioning Sales, installation& Service, Tel: 679 573 643

CD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT968 563 598 (Page 16)

BAR APICOCO Playa Honda 968 563 958 (Page 17)

BAR EL SOL Plaza CavannaLa Manga Strip, 968 563 899 (back page)

BRAMBLES BAR Playa Honda610 622 249 (page 11)

DOLLY’S BAR, Plaza Bohemia, La Manga 663 608 575

ELVIS’ DINER, Galerias El Flamenco (behind Zoco) 630 466 417

MARTIN’S Restaurant, Calle MayorLos Belones - 651 594 822 (Page 22)

NOBBY’S CANTINA, Nuevo Puerto BelloLa Manga, 968 564 551 (inside back page)

PADDYWACKS IRISH BARLa Manga Strip 968 563 648 (page 12)

PEPE’S BAR Mar de Cristal (page 27)

Clinica Dental ALEMANALa Manga 968 175 300

MARUJA Garden Centre/NurseryCabo de Palos Tel 968563 905

SHAPE & TONE -Toning Tables, PowerPlates, Chiropractor, Masseur, BeauticianLos Alcazares 661 002 648 (page 21)

TRANQUILITY - Beauty, Body & Nail SalonGalerias El Flamenco, Km 4, La Manga Strip(behind Zocos) 638 300 656 (page 6)

ASSSA INSURANCE - Los Belones968 153 396 (page 9)

DAVID MASON Insurance Services (page 2)Funeral planning (page 12)Los Belones, 968 137 719 / 659 226 112

LINEA DIRECTA CAR Insurance Tel: 902 123 161 (pages 14 & 15)

RICHARD HOWARD Insurance Services,Los Belones 968 13 72 59 (Page 7)email:[email protected]

IBERBRIT LEGAL, La Manga Strip968 337 392 (page 21)

SEA-KLEAR The original Pool & Spa waterclarifier. Tel: 677 221 159 (inside back page)

CD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT &ALES968 563 598 (Page 16)

RESORT CHOICE (Resort La Manga) Mar de Cristal, 968 545 204 (page 5)

EDEN International, Property AgentsLos Carmenes, Gran Via Km 3La Manga, Tel: 0034 968 143 185 (page 18)

OLYMPIEZA, apartment cleaningC/La Loma, Torrevieja, 675 021 669

TOP CLASS MANAGEMENT [email protected] (page 18)

AIR CONDITIONING

BABY EQUIPMENT HIRE

HEALTH & BEAUTY

DENTISTS

GARDEN CENTRES

INSURANCE

BARS & RESTAURANTS

LEGAL & FINANCIAL SERVICES

PROPERTY SALES & SERVICES

POOLS & SPAS


Why you should have your pet neutered

DJ’S MINI MART Los Belones 617 029 321 (page 2)

HONDAMAR SupermercadoPlaya Honda 968 56 43 68 (page 22)THE FURNITURE STORE Poligono Ind. Los Alcazares. 968 582 546

MISSING LINKS (Cornish Pride) (page 18)Los Belones 620 562 973 / 650 267 650

CAR MECHANIC All aspects of car mechanicscall Kevin on: 649 076 344 (page 22)

SUNNY’S LAVANDERIA Laundry servicesGalerias el Flamenco 689 339 095 (page 6)

AQUA ADICTA968 545 193 / 659 434 811 (page 28)

INTERPRETER AvailableSpanish national (10 years in England) withfluent English. For hospitals, doctors, police,banks, solicitors, schools, ITV, etc. Translationof documents. Sympathetic and totally reliable.Cartagena and surrounding areas, Mar Menor,Fuente Alamo, Torre Pacheco. Other areasconsidered. From 15 euros hour. Tel: 968165565 Mob: 626690873 (ask for JOSÉ)

CABO MANGA Ctra Cabo de PalosLa Manga 968 146 364 (page 27)

VALERIE’S NOVIAS, bridal gowns &Accessories, C/Mayor 9, Pilar de Horadada966 766 689

PHOTO VIDEO SPAIN, wedding/eventsKeith Nicol, 609 063 614

SERVICES

RETAIL

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There are several very good reasons to haveyour pet neutered.

For your pets healthNeutered pets will, on average, live longer,healthier lives than unneutered ones. Here aresome of the reasons why:

Spaying female dogs (bitches) and cats,especially if this is carried out when they areyoung, will greatly reduce the risk of themgetting breast cancers and infection of thewomb (pyometra) - both of these are commonand frequently fatal conditions in older,unspayed females.

It should not be forgotten that bothpregnancy and giving birth carry significantrisks to the mother.

In male dogs castration will significantlyreduce the incidence of prostate disease, andreduce the risk of some cancers.

Neutering male dogs and cats reduces their

urges to roam andto fight - as aresult they areless likely to gomissing, get hit by cars, or suffer woundsfrom fights.

For male cats, neutering reduces theirchance of catching Feline ImmunodeficiencyVirus (FIV), an incurable viral disease, simi-lar to HIV in humans, which is spread bysalive - most frequently from bite woundswhile fighting.

Pets which are not neutered and are con-fined can become frustrated and unhappy.They will often make determined efforts toescape and as a result may fall out of windows,go missing, or be involved in traffic accidents.

Many bitches will have a false pregnancyfollowing their season. While this is natural,it can lead to behavioural problems and evenin some cases, medical ones, neutering willprevent this.


This month I will continue my series of articles on songbirds. Actually, half of allbirds in existence are classified as songbirds, which accounts for 4,000 species. Asongbird is one who uses song to attract a mate or to protect its territory and includessuch families as thrushes, larks, wrens, warblers etc. I am focussing on those song-birds that are common around the Mar Menor.

Songbirds will normally chose a perchfrom which to sing, however, some birdsthat live in open countryside do not haveaccess to a suitable perch. Thereforethey chose to sing in flight, hence theterm song-flight. A bird's song-flight isdifferent to its normal flying pattern.Male birds normally use it, in order toattract females. During this song-flightthe bird will sing loudly and generallyshow off to attract the attention of anyfemales in the area. Song-flight can alsoused to demonstrate the extent of a birdsterritory.

My chosen bird this week is the Sardinian Warbler. There are a couple that frequentlyvisit my garden. Unfortunately one took a high-speed dive into my conservatorywindow. It survived, I am glad to say and while it was sitting in a rather dazedfashion on my terrace I was able to get an unusually close look at it.

Sardinian Warblers are common around the Mediterranean but rarely seen furthernorth. They are found in areas of scrub with scattered bushes and stones. They arenormally seen in pairs or small family groups, but not in large flocks.

The song of the Sardinian Warbler is a rapid rattling chatter, in fact rather unmusical!Its flight is most unusual, it appears to bounce along in the air rather than glide. Asfar as I am aware it does not exhibit a song-flight though some other warblers do.

Next time we will look at some other warblers, including the Willow Warbler andDartford Warbler. If you would like to take a look at any of the previous articles thatI have written, please go to: http://www.aqua-adicta.co.uk/articles.html. There youwill find articles on many birds common to this area including; flamingos, gulls,hoopoe, terns, avocet etc. etc.

Lesley Singleton, AQUA ADICTA


Sleeping Beauty, TomThumb, and Quasimodo wereall talking one day.

Sleeping Beauty said, "Ibelieve myself to be the mostbeautiful girl in the world."

Tom Thumb said, "I must bethe smallest person in theworld." Quasimodo said, "I absolute-ly have to be the ugliest per-son in the world."

They decided to go to theGuinness Book of WorldRecords to have their claimsverified.

Sleeping Beauty went firstand came out looking deliri-ously happy. "It's official, IAM the most beautiful girl inthe world,"

Tom Thumb went next andemerged triumphant, "I amofficially the smallest personin the world."

Sometime later, Quasimodocame out looking peed offand shouted, "Who the hell isCamilla Parker Bowles?"

*******The guys were on a huntingtrip. They had to bunk two toa room. No one wanted toroom with Ryan because hesnored so badly. They decid-ed it wasn't fair to make oneof them stay with him thewhole time, so they voted totake turns.

The first guy slept in Ryan'sroom and came to breakfastthe next morning with hishair a mess and his eyes allbloodshot. They said, "Man,what happened to you?" He

said, "Ryan snored so loudly,I just sat up and watched himall night."

The next night it was a differ-ent guy's turn. In the morning,same thing - hair all standingup, eyes all blood-shot. Theysaid, "Man, what happened toyou? You look awful!" Hesaid, "Man, that Ryan shakesthe roof. I sat up and watchedhim all night." The third night was Frank'sturn. Frank was a big, burly,ex-rugby player; a man'sman. The next morning hecame to breakfast bright eyedand bushy tailed, lookingwell rested. "Good morning," he said.They couldn't believe it!They said, "Man, what hap-pened? How did you get agood night's sleep?" He said, "Well, we got readyfor bed. I went over andtucked Ryan into bed,pinched him on the bum andkissed him good night. He satup and watched me all night."

*******My dad is Irish and my mumis Iranian, which meant thatwe spent most of our familyholidays in Customs.

*******I saw a woman wearing asweatshirt with 'Guess' on it.I said, 'Thyroid problem?'

*******A cement mixer collided witha prison van on the Kingstonbypass. Motorists are askedto be on the lookout for 16hardened criminals.

The FThe Fun Spotun Spot

Crossword

Codebreaker

Puzzle

Solutions

Sudoku


EMERGENCY NUMBER - 112Useful NumbersUseful Numbers to kto keep by the phoneeep by the phone

AMBULANCE - 061GUARDIA CIVIL - 062La Manga del Mar Menor 968 563 222 La Unión 968 560 011San Javier 968 335 920San Pedro del Pinatar 968 180 610LOCAL POLICE - 092Cabo de Palos 968 337 238Cartagena 968 128 877El Algar 968 135 695La Manga del Mar Menor 968 337 300 La Unión 968 560 051Los Alcázares 968 171 919San Javier 968 570 880San Pedro del Pinatar 968 188 092NATIONAL POLICE – 091Cartagena 968 320 722FIRE BRIGADE - 112Cartagena 968 128 880Los Alcázares 968 171 782MARITIME EMERGENCIES – 900 202 202MEDICAL CENTRESCosta Calida 968 142 060El Algar 968 135 510La Manga del Mar Menor 968 142 125Lo Pagan 968 184 728Los Alcázares 968 575 800Los Belones 968 137 476Portman 968 548 064San Javier 968 191 866San Pedro del Pinatar 968 187 865

HOSPITALSCartagena: Santa Maria del Rosell 968 325 000Naval Hospital 968 327 400Murcia:Virgen de la Arrixaca 968 369 500J.M. Morales Meseguer 968 360 900San Javier:Los Arcos 968 570 050

AIRPORTS (www.aena.es)Alicante 966 919 000San Javier (Murcia) 968 172 000BUS STATIONSCartagena 968 505 656Murcia 968 292 211San Pedro del Pinatar 968 182 942RAILWAYSFEVE www.feve.es 968 501 172RENFE www.renfe.es 902 240 202UTILITY COMPANIESTelefonica 1004www.telefonica.es www.telefonicainenglish.comIberdrola (Electricity) 901 202 020 www.iberdrola.comAquagest (Cartagena) 968 122 600Aquagest (San Javier) 968 572 112LOCAL TRAFFIC OFFICE(Cartagena) 968 500 883PROVINCIAL TRAFFIC OFFICE(Murcia) 968 256 211ITV Cartagena 968 538 219CORREOS (POST OFFICE)www.correos.esGeneral Information 902 197 197La Manga 968 564 981BRITISH CONSULATE 965 216 022SUPPORT GROUPSMABS cancer support 968 432 525email: [email protected] MMM 968 570 059www.helpmarmenor.orgANIMAL RESCUENoah’s Arc 699 352 818www.noahsarcmurcia

APAH Rescue 630 422 563www.apahrescue.com

Edition 17 Mar Menor Focus MARCH 2010

Documents

Transcript of Edition 17 Mar Menor Focus MARCH 2010