Federer does it again!

In case you missed it all over the media (we did), Roger Federer played the ball from between his legs in his 2010 US Open First Round match against Argentina's Brian Dabul. Not for the first time, either; he played the same, less difficult shot, against  Djokovic at last year's Semifinal. He had the public on their feet this time, too!

'Tamborada' produces over 3,000 kilos of rubbish on beach

BARBATE (Agencies) "About 10,000" people came together last weekend for a tamborada (tambor = drum, so 'drum-in') on the beach at Caños de Meca (photo), near Babate. The authorities had not allowed the congregation but say it was impossible to stop. In any case, the Mayor of Barbate, Rafael Quirós, said that some three thousand kilos of rubbish were removed from the beach and the surrounding area, a task made more difficult because the 'drum party' that started on Saturday evening, went on until midday on Sunday. (Prospero note: Pity I missed it...)

Taxi driver attacked with knife

LA LÍNEA (Europa Press) A 41 year old taxi driver was attacked with a knife as he was doing his job shortly after midnight this morning. The 061 emergency service reported that after receiving a call, an ambulance found a man lying on the ground in the Los Junquillos district of La Línea. He presented injuries to the throat, an armpit and a leg. The man was taken to the local hospital, where he remained until this afternoon. According to the man's testimony, he was attacked by two men, although no further details are available from the National Police, who have taken over the investigation.

Two arrested in 'chiringuito' burglary

TARIFA / ATLANTERRA (PHOTO: ILLUSTRATION ONLY) The Guardia Civil got a call in the early hours of Monday last, saying that there were noises coming from one of the beach bars (chiringuitos) at Atlanterra. When they arrived they saw two men running away but holding a dishwasher tray between them, which they dropped as soon as they became aware of the police presence. The GC ascertained that the tray contained numerous bottles of spirits, which allegedly came from the chiringuito, according to a check made at the scene. A.P.B. and G.S.M. were atken into custody and are now 'at the disposal of the courts'.

2,185 kilos of hashish, Sotogrande drug haul

SAN ROQUE / SOTOGRANDE Four people were arrested yesterday evening and 2,850 kilos of hashish confiscated in an operation that took place at sea near the port of Sotogrande. The Guardia Civil's SIVE (Servicio Integrado de Vigilancia Exterior) units from Málaga and Algeciras had been following a launch , headed towards the luxury resort, they suspected might be using the fog as camouflage. The 15m launch was finally boarded some 12 kms out to sea and taken to port, where 108 bales of hashish were discovered on board. The four people on board - P.V.C., I.J.N., C.F.D. and J.M., Spanish, British, French and Moroccan respectively - were placed 'at the disposal of the courts'.

Spanish workers in Gibraltar planning demonstration against 'congestion charge'

LA LÍNEA / GIBRALTAR (Agencies) Salvador Molina, president of ASTECG, the organization that groups together Spanish workers in Gibraltar, has announced that his organization's intention of holding a demonstration to protest against La Línea's intended so-called congestion charge. He added that they were totally against the charge and that "there is concern among business people in Gibraltar." He said, too, that ASTECG will "accompany" a Gibraltarian demonstration on September 23 and is collecting protest signatures "in English and Spanish." Molina said that there as no firm date for his organization's demonstration but>

Michigán Urban Mile race, part of Jimena's Novena tradition

This year sees the 23rd edition of the Michigán Urban Mile race, one of the Campo de Gibraltar's main athletic attractions and held traditionally on the Saturday of the Novena celebrations there. Divided into several categories, the race includes everyone from veterans to children, attracting people from all over the area and has become more than an athletic event, with friends and families meeting for drinks after the race. This year's race starts at 5.30pm on Saturday . CHECK THE FULL PROGRAMME HERE. (Note: not sure why Michigán, except that this is the name of a section of Los Ángeles, or Estación.)

New dining rooms for primary schools in Estación and Tesorillo

CEIP Aljibe, of Estación (or Los Ángeles), will have a dining room and lunch service as from this school year. Mayor Pascual Collado, Councillors Jesús Rodríguez and Juana Jiménez, visited the school yesterday to se the work in progress. Rodríguez, Councillor for Education, also announced that similar work is being carried out at the CEIP José Luis Sánchez in San Martín del Tesorillo. The work is directed from the Junta's Department of Education and it is plannd that the new lunch service (in demand for a number of years) will be available at the beginning of the school year.

Castellar heroin ring busted

CASTELLAR (Agencies / Photo: from Guardia Civil video) A drug specialising in heroin traffic and based in Castellar was busted yesterday, according to a press release from the Guardia Civil. With ramifications in Algeciras, La Línea and San Roque, as well as in Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, Operation Almenara concluded with the arrest of eight people, confiscation of 814 grammes of heroin, other drugs, cash, computers, mobile phones and arms. The gang had been under watch, in an operation headed by the GC in Algeciras, since December but it was only in April that a man of North African origin was seen arriving from Madrid by bus and being handed a parcel of the drug. He was arrested at the Algeciras bus station. This was the first of a series of deliveries; the heroin was brought in from Palma de Mallorca and delivered in Madrid. Last June, the GC arrested J. L. M. C.; H. Z., from Morocco, and his partner M. N. C. Subsequent investigation brought about yesterday's arrests of F. J. N. C. in La Línea, J. D. R. C. in Puente Mayorga (San Roque), as well as others in Madrid and Palma. Yesterday's search of several addresses also resulted in the arrest of two people being sought by courts.

2010 International Birds of the Strait Fair, September 24 to 26

TARIFA Around 50 companies will be taking part in the Feria de Aves in Tarifa between September 24 – 26. The mayor Miguel Manella announced the high level of support after visiting the British Birdwatching fair in Rutland. Tarifa's event promises to get bigger each year, as more emphasis is given to the tourism possibilities of the area. There is an extensive programme of activities planned for the three days, including birdwatching day trips run by local experts, a course on ringing, as well as whale watching; lectures and music, visits to Old Tarifa and the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia, plus as food and wine tasting - and plenty more. SEE THE WHOLE PROGRAMME BELOW, or check the fair's website.>

School start dates for 2010/2011 year

Work is being carried out at all municipal infant and primary schools in preparation for the beginning of the 2010/2011 school year, which for the younger ones, begins on Friday September 10. ESO and Bachillerato classes start on the 15th. If your school-age child is new to their school, it is essential to register (matricular) him or her before classes start. All you have to do is take your certificado de empadronamiento (certificate of registration, easily available at your Ayuntamiento, Town Hall), plus your residence ceretificate or passport (and the kids') to the school's secretaría. They're very helpful, and they're quite used to foreigners turning up looking lost...

What happened to La Línea's piece of the PIE?

EDITORIAL The situation at the border is by all reports becoming ridiculous. Long queues snake their way back into Gibraltar every day, summer heat adding to the misery. (The queue is difficult enough; I haven't taken my car onto the Rock for over 15 years. Have they got a loo anywhere near the loop these days?) Conjecture is rampant. Madrid is worried. Convent Place is outraged. Spanish and Gibraltar unions are planning joint demonstrations (is this the beginning of an entente cordiale?). And as usual it all boils down to money. A piece of the PIE, in fact.>

La Línea receives €3.5 million more than similar sized towns

LA LÍNEA The central government distributes its largesse via something called Participación de los Ingresos del Estado, or PIE in its not inappropriate Spanish acronym that translates into Participation in State Income. According to PSOE Deputy Salvador de la Encina, La Línea's piece of the PIE amounts to an average of €3.5 million per year more than other similarly-sized towns, which adds up to €24.5 million since 2004 - or around €15,000,000 per year. This, says the deputy, is because of its condition as a border town and is part of a Special Financial Charter drawn up in recognition of the fact.>

Valderrama requests special treatment for future Castellar golf course

CASTELLAR (Photo: Promotur) Although construction is yet to start, the promoters of the future Castellar Golf Club, a company owned by the Ortiz-Patiño family, Valderrama 07 S.L., has requested the Junta de Andalucía's Department of Tourism for the course to be declared 'of tourist interest', though it is not absolutely clear how thenomenclature would help the developers. In any case, a report attached to request says that the course (first reported here) presents no risk of erosion or land slide as "there are no slopes over 35% on at least 70% of the terrain", and "there are enough water resources to meet the demands of the project". A report by the Junta at the beginning of this year declared that the Valderrama/Castellar project would be the only one that is viable in the province of Cádiz. The image text reads: 'Castellar course will be one of the world's most extensive'.

Double jeopardy with Blue Zone parking tickets

LA LÍNEA (Photo: illustration only) There are increasing reports about people being fined twice for parking offences in La Línea's Zona Azul (Blue Zone). Apparently, several people have received payment demands for up to €80 from Diputación (presumably  from the Recaudación, or tax, department of same) when they had already paid the fine drectly to the concessionary company, Isolux Corsán, on the same day. The fines all appear to be for the parking meters having timed out, payment for which is accepted by the company, thus saving a considerable sum. The solution is to present a receipt from the company at the local tax office.

Court orders closure of 'illegal animal shelter'

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) A court in Algeciras has sent down a final closure decision on Huerta La Aceitera, in the Botafuegos area of the town. The sentence says the buildings on the property, which dates back to  1896, were built without permission from the Town Planning Department of Algeciras. The owner, María del Carmen (photo by EuropaSur), had pleaded for leniency in February, but her consternation fell on deaf ears. "Where am I goiung to go with my animals now?" she asks. At some point she had permission for a 'zoological nucleus' in which to house her 57 cats and 34 dogs, with which she built septic tanks and proper facilities for her animals. But there was no permission for a house, even though there had been one on the property since at least 1959.

Fire on Sierra Carbonera, ten evacuated from fighting bull farm

SAN ROQUE / photo: EuropaSur Fire broke out at about  9pm last night on Sierra Carbonera, near the A-7 and close to the El Toril crossings, causing consternation among residents of San Roque. The fire came under control early this morning, but among other things, firefighters had to ascertain that fighting bulls had not escaped their pastures at Cortijo El Águila nearby, where staff and owners (sons of local bullfighting hero Miguelín) had to be evacuated as a precaution. This is the second fire in San Roque in a week and the fourth in the Campo de Gibraltar this summer.

Two new car parks for Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR Gibraltar Government has issued tenders for two new car parks this week. Part of the Integrated Traffic, Parking and Transport Plan, one of these is to be built at Engineer Lane, the other at Arengo's Palace. They join those already built at Willis’s Road, New Harbours and Sandpits, plus that at Devil’s Tower Road. still under construction When completed, the Arengo’s Palace car park will provide two hundred and eleven spaces. The schedule includes starting in early January 2011, and completion by April 2012. The Engineer Lane park, ts due to be built on the site of the current Engineer House parking lot, and will offer a total of two hundred and one car spaces. Its work schedule is the same as that for Arengo's Palace. Government did not make clear whether these new facilities will be free or pay-parking, nor whether they will be put on sale.

Gibraltar queues as tensions mount on La Línea toll (sorry, 'congestion charge')

GIBRALTAR (Photo: Gibraltar Chronicle) Queues out of Gibraltar this week have been horrendous, according to those who have had to live through them. The reason, they all know, is that La Línea Mayor Alejandro Sánchez is going ahead with his insane plans for a toll (he calls it a 'congestion charge') for vehicles coming out of the Rock, which we have covered extensively and will continue to do so. Below are only some of the related headlines, from only one of Gibraltar's media The Gibraltar Chronicle.>

Apes are a 'daily menace', says Rock employee

We met an employee at a well-known establishment in Gibraltar last week. She wishes to remain anonymous because she is afraid of losing her job. Her arms and legs showed bruises and bite marks. "We have to walk around with sticks because the apes attack us all the time," she told us. Colleagues, she added, are constantly having to call in sick because of the stress involved. None of the employees at this establishment -owned by one of Gibraltar's leading firms- have had any training or really know what to do in case of serious attack. Despite their pleas, she said nobody has done anything about it for years. There have been some serious incidents with the apes on Gibraltar,over recent months, including attacks on tourist families, on cruise ship crews and even invasions of hotel rooms.

Serious Fraud Office called in on Marrache case

GIBRALTAR (Agencies) The Royal Gibraltar Police has asked for help from Britain's Serious Fraud Office  (SFO) to help investigate the alleged multi-million pound fraud at Marrache & Co. A team including a case manager and a forensic accountant is expected to arrive on the Rock next month. The RGP's decision to call in the SFO stems from complications in unravelling the case in preparation for prosecution, and the agency's considerable resources and expertise.>

YouTube launches movie downloads

YouTube, the video and music site, today launched YouTube Movies. Now part of the Google empire, YouTube is at present offering some 400 free films. We noticed a plethora (i.e. too many?) of the Bollywood and Jackie Chan-type films, but the conmpany expects the choice to grow exponentially. Naturally these will not be new releases, though these could appear later, at a premium cost. Google is negotiating with the principal distributors and/or producers, such as Sony, for this purpose.

5 tons of hash found on board Dutch sailing boat

ALGECIRAS (AGENCIES / Photo: EuropaSur) A Spanish Customs helicopter sighted a suspicious-looking 17m sailing boat 10 miles off Punta de Europa, in the Straits of Gibraltar, at dawn last Wednesday. It aroused suspicion because its engines were shut down. A patrol boat was dispatched towards her, and Customs officers proceeded to inspect the vessel, the Dutch-registered Phoenix III, finding some 150 to 200 bales of hashish, amounting to some 5 tons of the drug, though a final haul is subject to confirmation.

State Attorney to act against La Línea 'congestion charge'

LA LÍNEA (AGENCIES / Photo: EuropaSur) The Spanish State Attorney is to present allegations against La Línea Council as soon as the latter approves the so-called congestion charge on vehicles coming from Gibraltar. Deputy Salvador de la Encina (PSOE) says that the Council's intention is to 'invade' the national CA 34 road that is used for that purpose, which the legislator considers illegal. He also criticized the Council (with a PP majority), adding that Mayor Alejandro Sánchez 'should concentrate on being able to pay his staff' and that 'he has started by the roadworks before the charge is approved in Council'. The mayor's latest activities could violate Spain's Local Treasury Law that states that municipalities cannot 'attempt against free movement of people or merchandise'.

Working up to this year's Novena in Jimena (September 3, 4 & 5)

As any good Catholic will tell you, a Novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. In Jimena, this liturgical aspect begins next Saturday, August 28, with daily Masses held at 7am and 7.30pm until Sunday, September 5th, at 7.30 (See Parish blog). In fact, this last is also when the procession begins in honour of Jimena's Patron Saint, Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles (Our Lady Queen of the Angels - and the reason so many women in the area are called Ángeles, or María de los Ángeles, or Mariángeles, the short version - and why Estación wants to be officially renamed to Los Ángeles, its traditional name). The procession (photo of 2008) is the culmination of several days' festivities. And we have the programme - in translation right now, by The Translation People - to be published soon. As usual, La Novena, as the festivities are called, are plentiful and fun! There are all kinds of things going on, including the 29th edition of the annual Flamenco Festival. The booklet with the programme in Spanish begins to be distributed this weekend. WATCH THIS SPACE.

One of UK's most wanted men arrested in Marbella

MARBELLA (BBC) James Tomkins, 61, was arrested in Marbella by Spanish authorities over the drive-by murder of electrician Rocky Dawson, 24, in Hornchurch, Essex, in May 2006. Mr Dawson was shot dead outside his parent's home as he was putting his two children into his car. Mr Tomkins is due in court in Madrid on Friday for extradition proceedings. He was captured in the coastal town of Puerto Banus after armed plain-clothes officers and uniformed police from Madrid and Malaga raided an address. The fugitive attempted to escape by jumping out of the window but was tracked by air support and arrested by officers on the ground. Officers have not been able to find the motive behind the killing. A reward of £20,000 for information had been offered.

Terrorist attack on Guardia Civil Afghanistan post

AFGHANISTAN Two Guardia Civil officers on training duty in the Qala-i-Naw base in Afghanistan were killed by their Afghan driver of five months. Captain José María Galera Córdoba, 33, of Albacete, and Lieutentant Abraham Leoncio Bravo Picallo, also 33, of A Coruña, and their interpreter, nationalised Spaniard of Iranian origin, were gunned down by their Afghan charge. He, in turn, was shot dead by members of the GC unit there. Both men came from the GC basein Logroño and were due to return therein a month's time. Galera was an expert in anti-terrorism, while Bravo was continuing his training as an instructor. After the incident, the Spanish base was attacked by a civilian crowd demanding the return of the driver's body, but was repelled by units of the Afghan police and Guardia Civil.

La Línea mayor carries on regardless

Work continues (Photo: EuropaSur)

LA LÍNEA / GIBRALTAR (Gibraltar Chronicle) La Línea Mayor Alejandro Sánchez yesterday evening issued a statement questioning the authority of “two people dressed in yellow” seeking to halt the works at the frontier for his so called ‘decongestion charge’.  Sánchez claimed the two men had no authority and had produced incomplete documentation to the Ayuntamiento. The Mayor said he believes that the gesture reflects ‘nervousness’  (presumably in Madrid, his true objective.Ed) and defied this saying the toll works will proceed. (See also, the following Chronicle article by Brian Reyes: Sánchez plan hits Madrid red tape.)

False Gibraltar notes, warns RGP

GIBRALTAR - Gibraltar Chronicle The RGP wishes to warn shop owners and the public of a recent increase of counterfeit bank notes in circulation. During the last couple of weeks there has been a number of counterfeit Government of Gibraltar £10 notes, both the old and new denomination, used in different local shops. The RGP advises the general public to double check any notes handed over in transaction and to look at the paper quality, metallic security thread and the watermark. If any person suspects that they have been given a fake bank note, they are to seize it and hand it over to the RGP for investigation. The RGP wishes to remind the public that it is a criminal offence to hold or pass on a note knowing it to be counterfeit.

Jimena is Miss Universe 2010

Yes, you read that right. This year's Miss Universe is called Jimena Navarrete. She was Miss Mexico, and was crowned on Monday at the 59th edition of the pageant, held this year at the Mandalay Hotel in Las Vegas. In fact, Jimena is a fairly common name in Mexico, as you can see if you choose to waste time (as we have) by Googling the name... There's a very popular singer by that name, apparently, and a hurricane was called that last year. It is the name of the legendary mother of Bernardo de Carpio (no, not Di Caprio, silly), whoever that was, and Jimena Díaz was the wife of El Cid, of course. King Alfonso VI of Castile (c.1040 – 1109), called The Brave, had a mistress called Jimena Muñoz ... and then there's JimenaPulse, JimenArte, Holidays in Jimena, Jimena Property Listings ... Well, done, Jimena!

Get to Gib by ferry, says operator

GIBRALTAR / ALGECIRAS / LA LÍNEA In a bizarre, if clever, marketing attempt at forestalling any problems related to entering or leaving the Rock , Transcoma, the company that operates the ferry service between Algeciras and Gibraltar recently announced a promotion offering a maritime alternative to La Linea’s controversial congestion charge. The 'congestion charge' is nowhere near becoming a reality yet, but the company running a service between the Rock and Algeciras is wasting no time. While municipal workers continued to prepare the road next to the border yesterday, Transcoma sent out a new leaflet advertising a €5 return ticket across the bay. 

'Balconing': a summer sport?

SPAIN (Agencies) Summer often brings out the worst in people. One stupid craze among stupid youth -often drunk and/or stoned- this summer is something the Spanish media have called 'balconing'. The mixed-up word, like the mixed-up people who practice it, describes jumping from a hotel balcony into a swimming pool below. Some eight people have died at various resorts so far this summer, and authorities are expecting the count to go higher by the end of the season. Hoteliers are having to put up protective fencing (photo) at considerable expense to protect their stupid guests against themselves.

Watch your coppers!

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR There have been several reports recently of copper wire robberies throughout the Campo. For instance, the whole of the entrance to Los Barrios, Avenida Manuel Moreno, was left in the dark earlier this month when it was discovered that the cables connecting the street lights had been 'lifted'. Apparently, manholes had been opened, and the system's rubber-coated cables stripped of the copper inside. Los Barrios has to replace 1700m of wiring at a cost of €4000. The Guardia Civil are reporting that high prces for the metal, plus 'the crisis', are behind several similar incidents in the area.

Get ready for the end of summer...

While the present heatwave is a bore, and many of us might already be wishing for winter, residents of the area will be aware that summer goes on for quite a while. Or does it? Having helped run a bar in Sotogrande some years ago, Prospero discovered that in fact summer ends sharply on August 31st. The contrast between that date and the following day was, and is, astounding. Visitors, mainly from cities like Madrid, Barcelona or Seville, left in droves, seemingly overnight, especially when the 31st was on a weekend. One well-known establishment holds an annual 'Alone At Last' party, and there's a pádel tournament of the same name, both for long-term residents of the area. Much the same applies to most of the summer hotspots - and only six days to go! (Don't tell anyone but summer ends officially on September 21st.)

Youth beaten up outside polo club

SOTOGRANDE (Agencies) An 18 year old man was taken to Puerta del Mar Hospital in Cádiz after being beaten up by a group of youths just outside the polo club.  The incident took place on Tuesday 17th at approximately 5am, although it was reported only last Monday. The aggresors, according to witnesses, were allegedly young people of 'high standing'. The victim, who had some ten bone fractures to his face on admission to hospital, had apparently tried to run away, as the Guardia Civil found blood marks some 100m from the entrance to the club. We have tried to find out more from sources at the polo club but to date have been unable to find anyone willing to talk about the incident. (Prospero note: We can't help wondering how quickly this matter has been hushed up, possibly by 'high standing' parents.)

Sotogrande: Arrested trying to get paid back rent

SOTOGRANDE (Agencies) A man, from Madrid, was arrested last week after climbing into his own property in the luxury resort, where he went to demand payment for back rent from his tenants, a French couple. However, the Guardia Civil also arrested the tenant for illegal possession of arms, a 12-bore gun, with which he attempted to defend himself from the landlord, who had allegedly hit his partner. The Guardia Civil have put both men 'at the disposal of the Court'.

Facebook groups aid in support of solutions to Algeciras problems

ALGECIRAS. If you type the word Algeciras into Facebook, you'll come across several groups aimed at sorting out (or trying to) the various problems of the town. Known in Spanish as one of the 'new technologies', social forums seem to have speeded ahead in these matters. The ongoing problems at the Art School (reported on CP) head the list with over 1640 members for its group. There's another group supporting the widening of the A-48 between Algeciras and Vejer, with over 1200 members, and a couple dealing with problems relating to teaching and schools. Perhaps the one seeking a reduction of Algeciras-Ceuta ferry tickets might appeal (544 members). Have a look, it's fun.

New heatwave coming our way

A heatwave arrived today (you hadn't noticed?) that will impact most of the Iberian Peninsula, and of course, the Campo de Gibraltar and the Province of Cádiz, which remain on a yellow alert until after next weekend, according to the national weather service AEMET. It is caused by a mass of hot air (i.e. a massing of politicians?) coming from North Africa and the Sahara desert (photo). Local temperatures are expected to reach at least 42ºC on Saturday and Sunday.

José María Macías (1951 - 2010)

JIMENA
We regret to announce the sudden death of José María Macías (photo: TioJimeno), who passed away early this morning. He is being mourned at the Tanatorio in San Pablo, where a Mass will be said at 6pm, followed by cremation. José María, nicknamed 'El Pichocho', was the builders' merchant in Estación and a well known Flamenco aficionado, as well as an enthusiast about anything to do with Andalucía. He was a close neighbour of Prospero's on Calle Romo. Our deepest sympathies to his family, particularly to his wife and three children, and brother Andrés.

Digital photography course at Castellar

The Department of Youth at Castellar announced the opening of registration for a digital photography course to be held from Monday, August 30 to Wednesday, September 1 at the Aula de Juventud, from 6 to 9pm. Registration is at the Town Hall from 9am to 2pm. The course is free, but bring your own camera. A very basic knowledge of photography is helpful as the aim is to help with things such as the technical details of the camera itself, as well as general concepts like focal distance, framing, exposure and speed. Only for those over 14.

Tarifa delegation gets ideas from Birdfair 2010

TARIFA
A municipal delegation headed by Mayor Miguel Manella attended Birdfair 2010, held in Rutland from August 20 to 22 and organized by the RSPB. The idea behind the trip was to learn from what has been called 'the Glastonbury of birdwatching' and apply as many lessons as possible to Tarifa's own version, which is to be held this year from September 24 to 26. The objective is also to further promote the municipality as a birdwatcher's paradise, which already attracts thousands of enthusiasts.

XXIX Festival Flamenco de la Estación de Jimena

The 29th edition of the annual Flamenco Festival at Estación de Jimena (a.k.a. Los Ángeles, and how we wish they'd make their minds up about what the place is called!) takes place on Friday, September 3, on Plaza Práxedes Gómez (by the railway crossing). Starting at 11 pm, tickets are €5. Local knowledgeable aficionado Andrés Macías (the Estación's builder's merchant) will be presenting a programme headed by the cantaora (singer) from Sevilla, Rosario La Tremendita, who also brings the Lydia Caballero dance troupe. The usual 'taste of Jerez' is provided this year by Jerez al Natural, and local talent comes by highly experienced cantaor José Bueno 'El Niño de los Brezos', accompanied on the guitar by Manolo Cortés, whom many of us have seen at the Oba bar and elsewhere in Jimena.

Oh, yeah? Watch out for e-mails like this one!

Typical example of fraudulent e-mail. Check grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. And if it sounds too good to be true, it is!

Good day, First, let me introduce myself once more, I am barrister Collin Shands . I am married and
a father of four children. I am a senior advocate here in Malaysia. My jurisdiction is Civil Law and Property Consultant. Though my proposition was rather self-explanatory but for purpose of clarity, let me use this medium to further brief you, particularly on the modus of actualizing this laudable project. My contacting you does not suggest that you are biologically related to the deceased,i will fix up your name as the next of kin as the lawyer to convince the Bank that a relationship exist between the two of you by extension of family lineage., the death certificate and other documents regarding this transaction will be sent to you in due time.and all i have been avoiding is all about scam in the internate. (There's more, lots more!)>

The hell with Monday - I'm on holiday!

So says our friend the frog (by Phil Heinzl). Lucky frog, we're not on holiday, and it's Monday again!

£112million against tobacco counterfeiting and smuggling

(Gibraltar Chronicle) One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies has pledged £112 million towards European efforts to smash the illegal trade in cigarettes. British American Tobacco (BAT) is joining forces with the European Commission’s anti-fraud office and national enforcement authorities in the 27 EU countries to counter organised crime worth tens of billions of pounds a year. The deal was sealed at a signing ceremony recently, two years after BAT approached the Commission with plans to step-up the fight against tobacco counterfeiting and smuggling. Estimates put annual losses from the smuggling of genuine and counterfeit cigarettes - those with cheap contents and copied brand logos - at about £8.4 billion a year.>

Gibraltar's 'A' level delight

GIBRALTAR

(Gibraltar Chronicle / Priya Gulraj) ‘A’ Level examination results were published yesterday with an overall A* - E pass rate of 98% at Westside School and 96% at Bayside School and 93% at the College this year. Bayside students Philip Dumas and Michael Catania were the only students who earned the Gibraltar Scholar title this year, for achieving three A* grades. The bar for that award has just risen from A to A*. Philip earned three A* and one A will go to study Law at Nottingham University. Michael was speechless after having collected his results. He is off to study Law at Durham University in September.>

NEW! 7 days on CampoPulse front page

We are pleased to announce (oooh, this sounds formal!) that henceforth the front page of CampoPulse will carry items posted over the previous seven days. This is as a result of the discovery that most of our readers (all 572 every day, on average!!) visit us at least twice a week. So, if you want to check on backdated items, just click on Older Posts at the bottom of the page. It does mean more scrolling down on the page, but, hey, we can't please everybody. Also, have you checked the new LinkedWithin feature at the bottom of each posting yet? If you click on something there, you'll be taken to a related item of the past, not necessarily recent - so be sure to check the date of the article, as it could lead to confusion.

Nightmare on board

ALGECIRAS
As we reported here a month ago, a Sierra Leone-registered ship, the Eastern Planet, limped into Algeciras port with 16 crew aboard (12 Ukranians, 2 Russians and 1 Georgian - including 2 women it emerged later). In the hold is a cargo of cement sacks valued at €600,000. The ship's owners, whose agents are MH Bland of Gibraltar, seem to have abandoned both ship and crew - though the consignee is supposedly making arrangements to transfer the cargo, to which the crew are adamantly against given that they haven't been paid for months. Fuel on board is enough for a month, says the crew, but precludes refrigeration even if they were able to buy any food. As it is, they are being fed and watered by the Red Cross, the UGT union and the Algeciras Food Bank.

Julius Henry Marx, Groucho to the rest of the world, died this day 33 years ago, in 1977. He said he wanted to be buried on top of Marylin Monroe but that didn't happen. His opinion on age? "Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough." His wit was second only to his wisdom; his one liners became embedded into the language. Here are some favourites: "I sent the club a wire stating, Please accept my resignation. I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies." "A man is as young as the woman he feels." "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." (See more quotes.)

Sancho on fire prevention

Summer isn't over yet. It's rained quite heavily (as it always does at least once every summer). Everything's wet (for a very short while, according to Prospero's washing line). But we should still be on our guard, according to Sancho's Tilting at Windmills blog. And he can sometimes even be right, such as with this. In any case, Prospero's cudding companion is an entertaining writer, a good man (well, he frequently pays for breakfast) and a good friend, so we're happy to recommend you read him.

Speeding foreign registered cars to be identified immediately

SPAIN
(EFE/Agencies) A new system set up by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) will be more efficient at tracking drivers of foreign cars speeding on Spanish roads. The Sub-Director of Traffic, Federico Jiménez, says that the objective is to banish "impunity on the roads, as everyone should be equal." To start with, special radars have been placed on the roads that are under most 'speeding pressure' from foreign vehicles, the AP-7 in Castellón, en la A-7 in Murcia, on the A-31 in Alicante and the A-52 in Zamora, where between 30% and 40% of speeding is done by foreign registered cars. The static radars function much like>