Saturday, 30 June 2012
Residents to be given a choice on street lamps
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| LED on the right |
JIMENA The Council is leaving an important decision up to its residents: LED or sodium induction street lighting. The idea is to save some 20% off an annual bill of €120,000 just for this illumination. Councillor Pedro Corbacho says that he wants the inhabitants to decide on the matter, and if necessary, to look for other ways of saving. He has contacted numerous companies who offer similar savings and is preparing the documents required to put the contract out to tender. In the meantime, tests are being carried out with LED lighting in the village's main square.
Arrested with over 3,000 child pornography videos
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| Illustration only |
ALGECIRAS (Agencies) The pursuit began in November 2011 with a denuncia from an Algeciras person who reported coming across child pornography material on internet, making the denuncia at the Guardia Civil headquarters in Algeciras. The matter was passed on to the GC's special unit, who opened 'Operation Klaus', aimed at finding the source of this material. Investigation led to the city of León, and eventually the IP address in question was located at a home there, where a raid came up with two computers and a hard drive and over 3,000 films of explicit sex with minors. A man, identified as P.C.C., was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
Bayard Osborn, sculptor and painter (1923-2012)
GAUCÍN Internationally recognised as a sculptor and a painter, it is my privilege to have known Bayard Osborn as a man, a father to his children, a husband to his wife. He was an artist, indeed, and, like most artists, his art often came first. In my own mind, he was frenetic man, someone who wanted to get things done no matter what. One of my first memories of Andalucía is pelting down the hill from Jimena, where Bayard lived before Gaucín over 40 years ago, in an open car full of Pilar's gorgeous daughters, headed for the beach at Alcaidesa. His driving was, well, erratic but fun.
Summer sales start tomorrow - by law
ALGECIRAS You will have seen the signs building up over the last couple of weeks: ofertas, descuentos - but not yet the word rebajas. This is the official word for what anywhere else is known as The Sales. Officially, the summer sales don't start until July 1, not before. This year is the third in which retailers are well aware of the possibilities of raising their figures a little earlier, taking advantage of the country's financial straits. Shops are allowed to offer discounts at any time of year, of course, but the more sizable percentages come on January 7 (after Reyes, Three Kings, present-giving day on January 6) and on July 1st. Discounts at these periods usually range from 30% to 50%, and sometimes, as the sales period fizzles out about a month or six weeks after they start, they go as far as 60% or even 70% off. Shops of all sizes take the opportunity to sell off older ranges, and it's not only clothes: through your door you will be getting literature from the larger chains as well as from more local shops, from furniture stores to hardware shops. (Prospero note: why is it that the sales always catch me out without a penny?)
Friday, 29 June 2012
Electricity and gas go up again in July
SPAIN (Agencies) July starts on Sunday, two days away. The news is that electricity and natural gas are going up, almost without warning. We have tried to explain the (cozy government-companies) system and why there is such a deficit in the electric companies' books when they show a profit seemingly every five minutes - so we won't do any more explaining (we can't explain something we do not understand anyway). Nevertheless, electricity is going up for the vast majority of a long-suffering public by an astronomical 3.95%, and natural gas by 2.26% (reports don't say anything about bombonas, but we can assume they'll be going up as well.). We're going to stop this item here because we need to go away and throw up. In any case, your wallet has been warned. (To see other items on the subject -including an attempt at explaining the reason behind these rises, just type in the word 'electricity' in the search widget on the sidebar...)
Family Fun Day at Mar Y Sol Market tomorrow
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Carrefour shopping centre damaged by fire
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| (Photo: europasur.es) |
LOS BARRIOS (Agencies) One of the shops in the gallery at the Carrefour shopping centre at Palmones, selling materials, was destroyed by a fire yesterday. The firefighters reported that it had been caused by a spark from the next door shop that was under renovation. The fire started shortly before 9am, when the centre was still closed to the public. By the time the fire brigade from the nearby Guadacorte station, workers had already used the extinguishers and the sprinklers had come into play. About one third of the merchandise in the shop was completely burned and practically all of the rest was damaged by smoke and water. Some of the shops in the same area were also damaged, though less so.
Reservoir at Gibralmedina on the books again
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| Under water? (Photo: rondanews) |
JIMENA / GAUCÍN A recent report by Andalucía's Department of the Environment (of which more later), plans for the construction of a dam between Jimena and Gaucín, called Gibralmedina and which is being given a budget of €171.6 million in today's Council session, which is approving a number of projects in the Campo de Gibraltar, and beyond, including expanding the water processing plant at San Roque, and watering facilities for the citrus plantations at San Martín del Tesorillo and San Pablo de Buceite, both within the municipality of Jimena and largely dependent on their annual crops. (See Vast reservoir project for Guadiaro River in planning stage)
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
William Hill gets U.S. gaming licencegamb
GIBRALTAR (Agencies) With an important presence on the Rock, one of the world's largest gambling outfits, is ready to be rewarded with a licence to operate in the United States. This follows the award of a licence by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which leads to another two such permits elsewhere in the US. Britain's largest bookmaker had announced last year that it would be buying American companies (AWI, Brandywine and Cal Neva), on condition that it was granted the licences to operate. The purchases are expected to have been completed by the end of this week. There is of course a lot of work ahead and the companies will not be in full operation for another couple of years. In the meantime they can begin offering sports betting on mobile devices. This is considered a prime market but, more importantly, it opens the door, eventually, to be first in line when legal restrictions on online gambling are lifted, which may not be too long in coming, according to some in the know.
Retraction on Local Police action in dog incident
JIMENA Further to our item regarding this dog, we had a visit from the two local police officers involved in the incident reported below. They were keen to point out that the person reported as kicking the dog was not the owner, but his father, and that there was no kicking involved as THEY WOULD NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO GET AWAY WITH IT. Prospero/Alberto apologised profusely for neglecting to get their version of the incident in the first place and responding emotionally on the subject. EN ESPAÑOL: A continuación del artículo sobre este perro, me han visitado los dos agentes de la Policía Local que intervinieron en el asunto, con los siguientes puntos: primero, que no era el dueño del perro el que se presentó, sino el padre; y que no hubo patadas para con el animal ya que NUNCA PERMITIRÍAN TAL COSA EN SU PRESENCIA. Me he disculpado con ellos por no haber contrastado el tema directamente con ellos y por haber reaccionado emocionalmente sobre este tema.
They paint Spanish colours on Gibraltar number plates
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| (Photo: europasur.es) |
ALGECIRAS The Spanish media is talking about a denuncia made by a Gibraltar man who claims that the number plates on his car was painted over with the Spanish colours while he and his family were shopping at the Puerta Europa mall in Algeciras. Clive Freyone says that his daughter's boyfriend's car also suffered similar vandalism at the same place and time: two red stripes at top and bottom of the plates. The Royal Gibraltar Police says that it can confirm the fact but 'for obvious reasons' can do little about it. The shopping mall's management says that although it tries to help in vandalism matters in its parking facility, this is 'open and free' and therefore has no responsibility. Freyone also stated, according to local reports, that he is aware that other similar damage has been reported by people he knows in Gibraltar. This follows an incident whereby a Gibraltarian woman had a Spanish flag removed in the luxury resort of Sotogrande last week; the flag was replaced after the matter became public. It is easy to assume that these incidents are the indirect result of the fishing rights dispute currently in the headlines.
Thirteen arrested in fake Euro 2012 team kit operation
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| The real thing (Illustration only) |
ALGECIRAS (Agencies) Thirteen people were arrested at Algeciras port recently, when the Treasury authorities and the Guardia Civil found almost 3,665 fake kits being introduced into the country. Most of them, 3,161, were forged replicas of the Spanish team's gear, mainly shirts and track suits; the rest were fake German kits. With a street value of some €380,480, all of the merchandise came from Morocco, and had the logo of a well known sports equipment manufacturer, who was contacted to confirm that these were falsifications, as t EU law requires. The Spanish authorities have been especially vigilant about these matters, starting a campaign in March that will continue well after the end of the EURO 2012 competition. They also report that there has been a considerable increase in the number of arrests and operations aimed at stopping the fake merchandise reaching the market. (Prospero note: Does this mean the Moroccans know who will be in the final?)
Dog's owner kicks him home (GET INDIGNANT!)
JIMENA Just this minute got a call about that poor dog in Jimena. Apparently, the Local Police turned up because it was lying outside the supermarket. The owner turned up, kicked the dog up the hill and the POLICE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! There are animal cruelty laws in this country, and the police are supposed to carry out the law. PLEASE, get indignant, pass this on to whoever you think might help. EN ESPAÑOL: Hace unos minutos me llamaron para decirme que el pobre perro este en Jimena estaba acostado frente al supermercado. Llegó la Policía Local y el dueño. Este último llevó al perro a su casa a las patadas, literalmente y ¡LA POLICÍA NO HIZO ABSOLUTAMENTE NADA! Hay leyes sobre la crueldad animal en este país y la policía está para que se cumplan. POR FAVOR, indígnate, y envía esto a quien creas pueda o deba hacer algo.
What was DominGo and is it worth recovering?
Gazpachotherapy? Yes, why not?
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| Click to enlarge |
That's the way it is written in Spanish: gazpachoterapia. And a course in it is part of a programme of events and activities organized by the enterprising people at Posada La Casa Grande in Jimena. There are all kinds of things going on -in Spanish, natch- this month, ranging from How to Survive in the Mountains (like the muleteers, smugglers and bandoleers used to do - this is the first of this series, planned for this coming weekend, June 29, 30 and July 1) to How to Make a Solar Distillery (not sure if it applies to making poteen, though) and, of course the soon-to-be-famous gazpachotherapy, scheduled for July 20, 21 and 22. (See all the courses, and more info here - we will be reminding you as they arise).
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
French 'Spitting Image' says there was no need for Spanish doping
Some time ago, the French version of Spitting Image had the characters accuse Spanish sportsmen and women of doping themselves to achieve the remarkable heights they had at the time. Now, the French are at it again, only this time pointing out that it wasn't necessary for Spain to dope themselves against France. This, of course, in reference to last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at the Euro 2012 quarter finals. The main characters here is Iker Casillas (often referred to as Saint Iker in Spain) and another indeterminate player. We have been unable to find subtitles in English.
Rescued from burning catamaran
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| (Photo: europasur.es) |
LA LÍNEA (Agencies) The Guardia Civil were able to rescue the two crew members off a catamaran that burst into flames twenty meters away from the Poniente (western) beach in La Línea in the early hours of Thursday last. The elderly crew were taken to the port of Algeciras where they were picked up by relatives. La Línea Council closed off the beach because a rescue boat detected an oil slick that threatened the beach, but no reports of damage have been recorded.
Guardia Civil 'incursions' soar
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| (Photo: vox.gi) |
GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle / Brian Reyes) The number of incursions by Guardia Civil vessels into Gibraltar waters skyrocketed over the past two years, according to statistical data released to Parliament. Spanish state vessels, in common with all other ships, are allowed to sail through British territorial waters in what is known as the right of innocent passage. But if they linger too long or try to exercise jurisdiction, their presence is regarded as an incursion. Between 2002 and 2008, there were just 33 incursions recorded by the authorities in Gibraltar, according to date released by the Gibraltar Government in response to Opposition questions in Parliament. In 2009, there were none. But after that year, the pattern changed dramatically. (Read the whole story here).
Classical music concert on Thursday
You don't expect a drug drop while relaxing at the beach ...
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| Getares beach, Sunday (Photo: europasur.es) |
ALGECIRAS (Agencies) You're relaxing, grabbing some rays and all of a sudden, you're in the middle of a drug drop . That's what people at Getares beach went through on Sunday morning. A heavy duty launch roared onto the sand and men were seen running off hauling fardos (literally, bales but associated largely with the drug trade) across the sand. The Guardia Civil turned up by the time the men had disappeared, but the launch (photo) was left behind and is now seized as evidence of the alleged drop. Local beaches are well known as drug drops, but that's usually in the small hours.
Do you know how much your medications are going to cost from Sunday?
SPAIN / ANDALUCÍA The new cost cutting measures are beginning to bite. As from July I most of us will be paying considerably more for our medicines. Media reports say that Andalucía is ready for the change over (details below) to a Social Security-card led system. We asked staff and farmacéuticos at local chemists what they thought. All of them shrugged their shoulders, and most said there is not nearly enough public information out there, particularly for pensioners. The card system is supposed to tell the counter staff in what income bracket the customer is, but there doesn't seem to be much confidence in the ability of the system to cope - this assertion comes from reading the Spanish media, not based on any scientific survey. In any case, below we offer you a chart that is a guide toward knowing what you are likely to be charged for your medication - before you see it, say goodbye to cheap medicines by prescription.>>>
Family Fun Day at Mar Y Sol market this Saturday
Monday, 25 June 2012
Don't say you weren't warned...
Frankly, if you fall for this scam, Dear Reader, there is little hope for you in the 21st century. Look at the grammar, the spelling, the shoddiness ... 'nuff said, right? Whatever you do, DO NOT, CLICK ON ANY LINKS. Send the e-mail to the bin and then DELETE IT from there. By the way, it's always a good idea to empty your bin, trash, or whatever at least once a week - you never know what's lurking at the bottom of all that junk.
Somebody's got to pat him on the back
Prospero is being a right nuisance this morning. He goes about with a big smile on his face, expecting congratulations from all and sundry. For what? we hear you ask. He has let it drop into the more receptive ears that today is the second anniversary of his having given up smoking. It was, apparently, during the earlier stages of the World Cup in South Africa, but he chose this date because he says he can remember it more easily. Well, remember it he does, and doesn't let anyone else forget it. The illustration here is the one he put up not too long after the magnificent event he still won't let anyone forget. So here we go: Well done, Prospero!
Jimena castle closed off to visitors
JIMENA Further to our question about whether restoration work was about to begin, we found that the castle in Jimena has been closed off to visitors, presumably in preparation for that work. To quote friend and renown archaeologist Hamo Sassoon, in his epilogue to a book published at least fifteen years ago: "I cannot end this report without commenting that the priority in the Castle is not excavation, but rather the urgent and professional repair of the many places where the fabric of the structure is in immediate danger of collapse." (Oba Romana. Roman Jimena. Editorial Regueira.) The fact is that several places have collapsed since then, though fortunately not enough to cause major damage. It is worth noting the word 'professional'. Another point: a report by Councillor for the Treasury Pedro Corbacho, said that of the €750,000 grant the Council received last year for restoring the castle, €250,000 have yet to be found. Is this new restoration work the same project and has the missing money been found? Or are we yet again to see important work stopped half way when the money runs out?
Is it too late for this dog?
JIMENA It may be too late for this dog, despite the efforts of someone who is willing to pay for it him to be cured, if that's possible (See original item here - and read the comments). We're told by a vet that they couldn't touch it without the permission of the owner, who cannot, or will not, be found - yet just about everyone we've spoken to about it knows who that is, as we do. As we were taking this photograph we ran into Councillor Pascual Collado, the former Mayor. He told us that back then he had rescinded the 'dog-catcher' contract with El Refugio (now supported by Spanish Stray Dogs?) because "it simply didn't work" (we would like to hear from a representative of El Refugio on the subject). As a result, he discovered that there is not a single enterprise of any repute in the entire province that will do the job properly, something that impacts every single municipality. Mancomunidad announced recently that it was doing a feasibility study on creating such an enterprise, but, as we said, it will be too late for this dog. There is more on this subject coming up shortly: watch this space.
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Gibraltar hosts Freemasonry symposium
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| Spanish Freemasons form triangle, 1930s (Image: PARES) |
GIBRALTAR The 13th Symposium on Spanish Freemasonry is scheduled for the Caleta Hotel from October 11 to 13 this year. The founder and Honorary President of the Center for Historic Studies on Spanish Freemasonry (CEHME in its Spanish acronym), José Antonio Ferrer Benimeli, and its present President, José Miguel Delgado Idarreta, where on the Rock on Thursday to announce the event, which will be held under the title 'Gibraltar, Cadiz, America and Freemasonry; Constitutionalism and Freedom of the Press 1812-2012'.>>>
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Another reason Spain is in this mess: some salary and qualification comparisons in Spain
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| Spanish parliament (guardian.co.uk) |
SPAIN (Original source: TioJimeno) We came across this article, have extended it, and added some commentary. We would appreciate your comments, too. Some of these salaries are increased with extra payments and overtime, and are here offered only as a guide; they are also starting salaries. As for the qualifications needed simply to apply, these are as close as we can come to the reality, and we have left them as they are in Spanish though they do have equivalents in other countries - with the exception of the so-called 'oposiciones', a test that requires vast preparation.>>>
SUMMER READING: Headlines and links from the original JimenaPulse
Friday, 22 June 2012
How to make a paella
We showed you this last year, but we have lots of new readers who might still be interested. Two salient points: this is not a recipe, nor do we list ingredients, but if you click on a picture, you'll get a running commentary; and, if you don't ask us round to try it - bad luck on us! ¡Que aproveche! (All photos © 2012 Alberto Bullrich)
Is restoration work starting on the castle?
JIMENA This photo by El Niño de las Torres on TioJimeno's El Rincón de Contreras section announces that work is afoot on the castle, which needs it badly and urgently. Whether picks and labourers are imminent up there is another matter. According to El Niño, there are also barriers and even a guard's hut as well. You never know. As Manolo says, "The castle is very old. It'd be cheaper to knock it down and build a new one." (As quoted on TJ)
Gibraltarian has Spanish flag removed in Sotogrande
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| The offending flag (Photo: europasur.es) |
SAN ROQUE / Sotogrande With Spain heading towards winning the Euro 2012 football championships (we hope), controversy and nationalistic acrimony has raised its ugly head in the luxury resort of Sotogrande. It turns out that a Gibraltarian resident supposedly protested about the presence of a Spanish flag on the security guard's box at the Paniagua entrance to the resort. It all began last week, when a guard decided to show his support for the national team by hanging a flag under a window on the front of his stall. It remained there until about 8pm on Monday, when it was ordered down by the maintenance company Parques de Sotogrande, which, according to one source, had received complaints about it from a Gibraltarian woman. Naturally enough, Spanish residents were highly indignant and showed their displeasure by hanging out Spanish flags out of their own properties and vehicles.>>>
Is this the same person?
JIMENA They could be, and they have often been confused. In fact, they are the Lobillo brothers, Cayetano and Juan. Needless to say (so why do we?), they are twins. Prosp has known them for over 20 years and he still can't always tell which is which. Cayetano owns and runs Servijisa, in Estación, and Juan is a painter of both kinds, de brocha gorda (wide brush) and de brocha fina (fine brush). Can anyone tell me which is which in this pic, 'cos I can't?
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