'Campo Kitchen'

Written by Phillip Bruce

Friday, 17 October 2008

Having a laugh Taking the Plunge Sharon is continuing to recover from her illness. Her husband writes: Laughter really is the best medicine and there was plenty of that at the weekend when our daughter Julia and her boyfriend Alex visited the Campo. Sharon was busy in the days before, getting everything ready and doing the shopping. It’s a bit difficult to push a supermarket trolley and a wheelchair at the same time but, with a bit of effort and the odd bump, it can be done. When things get too difficult, such as when you have to get from the checkout to the car and the trolley is too heavy, you have to wheel the wheelchair so far, then go and get the trolley and wheel that past the wheelchair, then go and get the wheelchair – and so on in a kind of leapfrog. Eventually, you arrive at the car. The same technique has to be used at airports with the luggage trolley. It gets a bit lonely, though, for the person in the wheelchair, who sees the person who should be pushing the chair disappearing into the distance and has to hope that they will come back to fetch them. Things take extra time when you aren’t too mobile and so we were late at the airport to pick up the two visitors. Never mind, they were waiting outside on the pavement at San Javier when we did arrive and we were quickly off to an excellent tapas bar at San Pedro del Pinatar, recommended by the man in the pharmacy shop where we stopped briefly. We let Alex do the choosing and enjoyed longaniza sausages (both the white with anise and the red with paprika); little whitebait fish (although Julia didn’t like the little eyes staring at her); lean pork in tomato sauce, and half a dozen other tasty dishes. Then it was on to the big spa place, Thalasia, a short distance away. Sharon was in two minds about this, as she was worried about how she would get in and out of the pools. But there was no problem as there were plenty of handrails. The water is pumped in from the Mar Menor inland sea and is heavy with healing salts and minerals. It also makes you very buoyant, so Sharon floated about with no problems. There are a couple of peaceful small pools and a big pool with all sorts of fun things, such as heavy swan-necked showers that blast the tension out of stiff necks, bubble beds and underwater jets to ease painful backs. read complete >>>>>>>>>>>

Durán calls for Murcian water solution

Story published: Mon 27 Oct 08 07:01

Miguel Durán

José Hernández

Murcia’s producer and exporter association, Proexport, held its annual general meeting on Friday, at which members analysed prospects for the 2008-09 season and looked back on last season, which saw the region sell 50 per cent more fruit and vegetables year on year.

Proexport president Miguel Durán told the meeting that the global economic crisis could have a negetaive effect on the profitability of the sector by “reducing consumption of fresh produce and intensifying the low pricing policies of Europe’s large supermarket chains”.

Durán said that although the prospects appear positive for Murcia, with similar volumes expected to last season, companies in the Spanish region should not feel themselves immune to the crisis, but they can contribute to the stability of the regional and nacional economy.

On a different note, Durán told Ramón Luís Valcárcel, president of the regional authority of Murcia “we must solve the water shortage problem” and called for an end to the “unsettling double language” he claims is being used by politicians in the region on the issue of water. Durán offered the support of growers and businesses to any measure that moves to solve the problem.

He then turned on what he feels is unfair competition from Morocco as a “privileged member of the EU” and said the support of EU politicians for the north African country must be matched in Spain by domestic support for the country’s growers. He said that despite the situation, the horticulture sector in Murcia has “remained competitive, maintained its levels of employment and continued to generate significant income for the region”.

Read +>>>>>>>>

San Javier Airport to Operate Round the Clock

By Staff Reporter (office@theleader.info) (Published: 19/10/2008 Edition No.: 234)

San Javier Airport will open its second runway next month, together with the new control tower. This will enable flights to take off and land 24 hours a day, and become independent of the military base, which has been there for over 60 years. To commemorate the official inauguration Magdalena Alvarez, the Minister for Public Works, will be present. The exact date remains to be set. The long wait for the opening has been blamed on the ATEX formalities, which check the fireproofability of the installations. Next year a series of improvements to this airport have been planned; an investment of 50 million euros. Read +>>>>>>>>

Poetry in Motion with Stanza

By Sally Bengtsson (sally@theleader.info)
(Published: 21/09/2008 Edition No.: 230)


Members of Stanza

Stanza Mar Menor’s first meeting, last Wednesday morning, was a hive of enthusiasm and interesting characters. The eight newcomers consisted of a range of nationalities although all were English speakers. Incidentally, Spanish speakers are more than welcome to attend the meetings, which will be bilingual in this case. The range of backgrounds; a sculptor, a writer and performance poet, an inventor/ writer of children’s books/ cofounder of Help Mar Menor, a businesswoman, poets, would be writers, to name but a few, meant the meeting was fun-filled and enjoyable.

The meeting kicked off with a word of welcome from the cofounders, David Urion and Neil McNeil. The idea of forming some kind of group of writers in the Mar Menor area grew out of the needs of a small group of writers and poets Neil has been working with over the last two years. The writing group started to visit the Alicante branch of Stanza, the only other Stanza group in Spain, which is run by Christopher North, at the Annexe of University Alicant, in Benissa, near Javea.
read more :
http://www.costablancaleader.com/news/article.php?article_id=16522&article_section_id=1

Woody Allen heading to Murcia

06th October 2008

Holidaymakers heading to Murcia over the festive season might cross paths with a movie star. According to the Costa Blanca Leader, the actor, writer and director Woody Allen will be arriving in the region to perform with his jazz band on December 31st. Allen plays clarinet in the group, which performs weekly in Manhattan, New York. The star will not be the first famous face to enjoy the charms of La Manga, however. La Manga Club has welcomed various big names over the years to its Celebrity Golf Classic. Lawrence Dallaglio, Robert Powell and Zinzan Brooke are just some of the celebrities that have taken part in the charity golf tournament. But one need not be a celebrity to enjoy golf holidays to La Manga Club. There are plenty of opportunities for golfers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the world-class facilities, whether it be lessons at the academy or taking part in a game with friends. Would you like a quote for your La Manga Club Resort Holiday. Read in : http://www.lamangaspain.com/news/Woody-Allen-heading-to-Murcia-18813615.html

Rave reviews for REM in Murcia

The gig was the first of only two the band are playing in Spain. The second is in Madrid tonight.
Rave reviews for R.E.M. after they started their Spanish tour in Murcia bullring last night to present their new album ‘Accelerate’. The venue was three quarters full, with the concert promoted by the Culture department of the regional council which has said it wants to brings top groups to the Murcia region.

The group led by Michael Stipe made several anti-Bush references during the gig which lasted for more than two hours, complete with happy birthday and cake for the drummer Bill Rieflin.

read+:
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_18236.shtml

Man accused of Alcantarilla shooting is in a coma after being shot resisting arrest

By h.b. - Oct 3, 2008 - 7:44 AM


After allegedly shooting his girlfriend in the street the suspect spent three hours with another prostitute, also from Brazil.

It now seems clear that the main suspect in the of shooting and killing Elisabeth, the young Brazilian woman who was killed in Alcantarilla, Murcia on Wednesday, is a military man, her boyfriend, named as Rodrigo C.

Police say the she died at the scene of the shooting on Wednesday, while her friend Vanesa was seriously injured by a shot to the head.

Police say the suspect went to visit a prostitute immediately after the attack and had packed his bags and had assembled a large amount of money, and was planning to leave his home the following day.

He was arrested in another alternative club in the area, after paying to spend some three hours with another Brazilian woman. However he resisted arrest, pulling out his pistol against the two policemen attempting to detain him.
read+:
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_18289.shtml

'Wings Appeal' Takes Off

Written by Louise Clarke

Thursday, 25 September 2008

During the month of September every year, the Royal Air Forces Associations throughout the world make an extra effort to raise funds for the Battle of Britain Wings Appeal. Here on the Costa Blanca, our local RAFA Branch 1359 is no exception.

At the recent Battle of Britain Dinner Dance, a grand raffle took place and the association raised the magnificent sum of €1200 for the charity that looks after serving and ex-RAF servicemen and their families. Meanwhile, at the new Iceland supermarket in Torrevieja, thanks to the manager Graham Patterson and his staff, the kind hearted public donated a further €1,026. RAFA Spokesman Bruce Heath told RTN; "All in all, it was a very successful fund raising week which will help ensure that the needs of those presently serving in the Royal Air Force, ex RAF members and their families, living in the UK and in Spain are properly met."

from:
http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16433&Itemid=9

Thousands Come Ashore In Cartagena

The city of Cartagena is proving more poular than ever as a destination for cruise ships, with approximately 27,000 passengers set to disembark in the port between September and the end of the year.

Last week, the flow of tourists continued, with two ships, the “Oceana” and the “Seven Seas Voyager”, arriving in port. Between them, the ships were carrying around 2,700 passengers who were keen to come ashore and check out the delights of the city.

* Read the full story in the latest e-edition

Murcia, where the Sun lives