Four arrested for stealing sheep, illegal transport of same and throwing them out of the window

JIMENA (Press release) Four people were arrested by the Guardia Civil early yesterday morning for allegedly stealing several sheep from a farm in the municipality, transport them in a car and, on seeing they were being stopped, throwing the animals out of the car against the officers' vehicle during a high speed chase. The incident began when the GC saw a vehicle getting onto the A-405 with illegal manouvres. They tried to stop it but couldn't and a pursuit ensued. During the chase, the car drove onto the opposite side of the road several times and, suddenly, the occupants threw several sheep out of the window towards the Guardia vehicle, one of which hit it the bonnet. Once the vehicle had been stopped, the GC requested help from the Local Police to check the place where the sheep had been thrown out and remove the animals if necessary. Further investigation of the car elicited another sheep in the boot. The four occupants are now accused of severe disobedience to the authorities, animal abuse and robbery with force.

Cortijo El Mesonero

Thank you, Andalucía

Originally published on YouTube on February 27, 2009, this 'small piece of gratitude' was edited by JimenaPulse on the occasion of that year's Día de Andalucía. It's description: A tribute to Andalucía, the place and its people, from a grateful foreign immigrant. Set to a classic piece of flamenco guitar music by Paco de Lucía: 'Entre Dos Aguas', it contains photographs of a little mountain village in the Ronda mountains: Jimena de la Frontera. We're still grateful. (As we are to any photographers we may well have stolen from...)

"Spanish revolt brews as national economic rearmament begins in Europe," says Daily Telegraph

Recent protest in Valencia

SPAIN (Daily Telegraph) Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, the Telegraph's International Business Editor, has written a riveting article about what might be next for Spain. We heard him being interviewed this afternoon on the BBC's PM programme, speaking excellent Spanish. The article's sub-heading reads: Spain's new prime minister has looked into the abyss and recoiled. To quote the first couple of paragraphs: "Though he swept into office as an apostle of orthodoxy, Mariano Rajoy has since delved into Madrid’s ghastly accounts and concluded that it would be "suicidal" to try to slash the budget deficit from 8% of GDP to 4.4p% of GDP this year, as demanded by Europe's fiscal Calvinists. Such a policy would require a further €40bn or €50bn of cuts and accelerate the downward spiral already underway, beyond the 1.7pc contraction expected this year by the International Monetary Fund. The unemployment rate would rise to well over 25pc with six million out of work by the end of the year, equivalent to 30pc under the old definition used in the last jobless crisis in the early 1990s." (Read the whole article here.)

Film casting for extras

(BY E-MAIL) A film producer friend of this site sent us an e-mail saying that his company will be casting soon (no set date as yet) extras for an ongoing project involving the area of La Línea and Algeciras and shooting in April. They need extras, men and women of all ages with a variety of profiles, preferably of the 1980s (no modern hair cuts!). Within this group they also need men of an 'international' look, British, Irish, French and Moroccan. That, and Men of  'strong and/or athletic complexion'. Although they'll be needing people of a variety of ages, including youngsters of about 16 and a few kids of between 4 and 11, the majority chosen will be between 30 and 60. Details below>>>

Concert first, dinner afterwards

Jimena's music society, CODA, has organized a concert of chamber music by the Dmitrij Trio, to be held next Saturday, March 3, at Suzanna's home (just below El Anón) on Calle Consuelo, 42. Starting at 7.30 (Tickets at the door: Members €3, non-members €5), the idea is to go on to dinner at El Anón afterwards. Come and join the artists and other music lovers in the unique setting of the Anón Restaurant (€12 per head -2 dishes, a drink and dessert or coffee). If you'd like to, please call Jane Carhart on 956 641 273 (leave a message with name, phone number and number of people) to reserve before Friday.

Google privacy policy changes to reveal all about you

It's all over the internet with positive and negative comments. It's been there for a while so we have to apologize for not bringing you this earlier (we -that is, Prospero- can't be everywhere at all times!). Still one of the best articles we found on the subject of Google's new privacy policy changes (there are thousands) comes from ZDNet (UK Edition) Google: No opt-out of mix-and-match data, which is dated on January 25. Since then, there have been many more. Given that the change date is March 1st (that's the day after tomorrow!) the Daily Mail online chooses (as usual) to put the wind up everyone with 'Google will know more about you than your partner': Uproar as search giant reveals privacy policy that will allow them to track you on all their products. Typical. In any case it's worth looking at the comments on that one. Another article on ZDNet (US Edition), though, is titled Google's new privacy rules: get over it already. We're no experts at all and rely on big friendly people to help us out with even the most basic tech stuff, but we have taken precautions and did what we described below - but please don't blame us if they don't work!>>>

One of very few green shoots in the crisis

JIMENA An article appeared this morning in Europa Sur, the Spanish 'newspaper of reference' in the Campo de Gibraltar with the title as above. It talked about how people are discovering that there is money to be had from things that until recently would have been thrown away. It talked about the enterprising people who have managed to finance a franchise, etc. etc. - what it didn't mention is that Jimena has its own non-franchise version. It is called La Tiendecita and was opened by two enterprising women of the village, Liz and Connie, just last month, just opposite Cuenca Restaurant. We are reliably informed that it is doing well, and we are pleased for them! (Incidentally, we can't keep up with the way things come in and go out of the shop - and we're preparing a website to at least try to update these things. So if you have something to sell, give them a call on 956 641 583, 636 738 931 or 605 212 599 - or pop by the store with it.)

Gibraltar frontier workers to get the same free bus service as residents

GIBRALTAR One of several things that came up at the first official meeting between Mayor Gemma Araujo of La Línea and Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, held on Friday, is that registered frontier workers in Gibraltar will be able to benefit from the same free bus facilities available to local residents. It would require registration as employed and contribution to the economy via PAYE payments, no matter what nationality they may be. This was announced at a joint press conference held at Convent Place after the meeting. There were several items on the agenda, including such subjects of mutual interest as sewage pollution on Western Beach, the situation of Spanish pensioners, the situation regarding the Spanish side of the airport and even the type of helmets being worn by motorcyclists. You can read all about these on The Gibraltar Chronicle or Panorama.

Oba Bar & More

From a Regular Wrinkly Reader

(WEEKEND WRINKLY SPECIAL) Plenty of our readers (and our only writer, Prospero) are none too happy about reaching certain ages (use of plural optional) because ... well, things ain't what they used to be. With the intention of looking on the bright side, we have set out a list (below) of some of the positives - and a few words of sensible advice that we will doubtless heed immediately. (Incidentally, regular in Spain means 'just so-so')

Union Jack Removals

School 'cleaned out' by bailiffs

(Photo: cuatro.com)

Teachers and children cried as materials were loaded onto trucks

MADRID (Agencies) Santa Illa, a private school in the Chamartín neighbourhood of Madrid had almost a million euros worth of debt with Social Security. Under a court order, the bailiffs moved in yesterday morning and, as teachers and children looked on, removed chairs, whiteboards and even shelves, from which they 'threw books and papers on the floor', according to one witness. The police also looked on as several teachers and children cried, said the father of a student. The Ministry for Social Security said the school had had 'plenty of warning'. In fact, it has emerged that the schools head teacher, Iñaki Santa, received the court order that allowed the bailiffs to remove materials during school hours. What is yet to be determined is whether the traumatic experience was worth the amount of 'money' collected.

Valencia officials arrested on suspicion of stealing international aid funds

Albert Fabra, President of Valencia
(Photo: elpais.com)

Money destined to Nicaragua was allegedly siphoned off

VALENCIA (El País / J.Ferrandis, A.Beltrán, M.Fabra) Police in Valencia arrested have arrested several officials for alleged misappropriation of public money destined to a regional government office that helped needy families in the developing world. Among those charged with stealing public money, fraud and conspiracy are the director of the regional government’s overseas aid office, Josep Mará Felip; Marcial López, president of the Cyes Foundation; Arturo Tauroni Masia, director of the Hemispheric Foundation; his brother César Agusto Tauroni Masia; and Marc Llinares Pico, a computer analyst. Also arrested was Alexandre Catalá, deputy secretary of Valencia’s health department, who was immediately fired following the police bust. Regional premier Alberto Fabra, of the Popular Party (PP), called the investigation, which had been secret until Thursday’s arrests, “a serious one” because “we are talking about money that was allotted for humanitarian purposes.” He fired Felip and Catalá a few hours after the arrests were made.>>>

Odyssey treasure is on the way back to Spain

Hercules loading treasure
(Photo: abc.es)

Treasure expected to arrive tomorrow at Torrejón base in Madrid

TAMPA, Florida USA Having lost all the legal appeals available to it, Odyssey Marine Exploration finally relinquished the treasure it found supposedly in the wreckage of the Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, which was sunk by the British Navy in 1804 ('Witjhout prior declaration of war' according to one Spanish source). The treasure, mostly of gold and silver coins from the Americas and valued at well over €500million, was loaded onto two Spanish Air Force Hercules C-130 cargo planes this morning. Aside from the 594,000 coins, there are also metal fragments, cannon balls (some of which may well have been made in Jimena!), as well as ingots of copper and tin, as well as other artifacts - all in 'diverse state of repair', according to a representative of Spain's Ministry of Culture in Tampa to check the treasure.>>>

Government gives Town Halls one month to present overdue bills

Sáenz de Santamaría today

Councils must send unpaid bills dated before December 31, 2011

SPAIN (Agencies) The salient item that came out of today's Council of Ministers, according to the Government spokeswoman, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, is that those Ayuntamientos with bills due to be paid before December 31, 2011, in order that the small businesses that are owed money can be paid directly by a bank, with the State's backing. The bills must be sent in by the municipal corporations - not the businesses themselves - to the Ministry of the Treasury and Public Administrations before March 15. In addition,>>

Armed and hooded SEUR robbers get away with millions

SEUR centre, Vallecas, Madrid

High speed escape in luxury vehicle but with difficulty

MADRID (Agencies) The main distribution centre for SEUR, Spain's largest courier company, was attacked yesterday by an armed gang wearing hoodies. The alarm sounded at 3.50, when a van slammed into the security chamber that held the most valuable objects such as jewelry, watches, diamonds and gold. They knew exactly where to hit, and the suspicion is that this is an experienced gang, probably with insider help. Investigations are under way. There was a luxury vehicle waiting for them but they crashed on a roundabout on their way to the M-40, so they pointed a pistol at a woman driver and took her car instead, leaving behind some of the booty.

Endesa cuts power to market, but who turned it back on?

Market in the dark
(Photo: europasur.es)

Solidarity from local bars that gave them power

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) The electricity company turned off the light in part of the market in La Línea for lack of payment - like so very many other things that haven't been paid there. It was the fruit & veg and the seaffod section that suffered the most  and although they don't have freezers there, they couldn't use their weighing machines. However, the f&v part had the light come on in a short while, though the latter was without electricity for some hours. In some cases, though, and in an act of solidarity, local bars gave them power. The mystery remains, however, as a phone call to Endesa revealed that the company had not put the power back on because there are a great number of bills owed by the Council. So, who turned the light back on?

La Viña de Liñán

Avon

School's out until Thursday!

In the teachers' union's inimitable fashion, they have managed once more to get away with a very long puente (bridge: long weekend). Because Tuesday happens to be Día de Andalucía, and Monday, by sheer coincidence no doubt, is officially Education Community Day (Día de la Comunidad Educativa), they are also taking Leap Day, Wednesday February 29, off as well. Five consecutive days off without a thought for anyone else but themselves. No thought for parents, that's certain: if Mom or Dad or both are lucky enough to be working, how can they take time off to take care of the kids in the present unemployment climate? If they're not working, a day or three with either or both parents would probably do the children quite a lot of good ... but that can be a big if. (Tell us what you think: click on 'comments' below)

Clampdown on foreign registered vehicles

Gibraltar-registered vehicles are not exempt
SPAIN Drivers will have noticed that the Guardia Civil Traffic Unit are stopping them more frequently. They should know that the local Guardia Civil are well aware of all the foreign registered vehicles in their area; they know how long a person has been living in the area, and whether or not they have foreign-plated car at the door. Below, you will find a summary of what the law says -and a few suggestions- about a foreign registered car, most of which the GC have until now not been bothered with much. Until now. We keep hearing about cars being towed away or confiscated at the roadside because they are now clamping down on these illegal vehicles. The law is not specific about Gibraltar-plated cars, but it must be assumed that their owners living on this side of the border  are covered by the same law.>>>

Border police, Real Madrid fans all

Closer scrutiny of passports have been noticed

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle) "There has been an increase of frontier queues detected in recent days affecting both ingoing and outgoing traffic. Although some of this can be attributed to the continuing tobacco smuggling activity across the border, informed sources have stated that the Policía Nacional have begun to carry out more thorough checks of travel documents, including passing passports through the ‘toaster’ with much greater frequency than before. The informed source also attributes this more zealous approach by officers to the Anglo-Spanish diplomatic activity including the Cameron-Rajoy summit in London this week. However, it has also been noted that on Tuesday when Real Madrid played their European Champions League fixture in Russia as usual at the earlier time of 6pm rather than the habitual 8.45pm, all traffic was cleared in time for kick-off. It is understood that the vast majority of Policía Nacional officers are ardent Real Madrid supporters.It has been further observed that whenever Real Madrid plays its European matches traffic frontier flow is cleared well ahead of kick-off."

Why is February 28 a holiday? (and so is the 27th)

(Image: Wikipedia)

ANDALUCÍA Every autonomous region of Spain celebrates its Day. This one is ours. Anyone with a child in primary school in Andalucía will not be allowed to forget it, as the kids are involved in numerous activities and events related to it. And anyone with a child, etc. will know that Monday is also a holiday, by sheer coincidence, of course. But to go somewhat deeper than that, below are a few pieces of information that, if not useful, they at might at least be interesting. True, over the years, at about this time, we publish items related to the community in which we have chosen to live (a couple of links are below).>>>

Lujos

El Anón

Rugby charity dinner scheduled in Gibraltar - book now

GIBRALTAR We received this poster earlier this week thanks to one of our many readers on the Rock. Scheduled for Wednesday, March 28 at the Caleta Palace Hotel, the Gibraltar International Charity Rugby Dinner is aimed at supporting Gibraltar Rugby Youth Development, and all proceeds will go to Research in Childhood Cancer (RICC), an excellent cause. The dinner is hosted by Ian Robertson, the well known sports commentator on the BBC's 5Live. Guest speakers include Jason Leonard, OBE,  Nick Easter and Geoff Miller. Please click on the poster to enlarge it and get all the information you, including reservation phones and e-mails, as well as prices. It is a good cause that needs us - and no doubt the subject around the table will be the Six Nations, which will just have finished by then.

Ladies wot lunch! Wot a lunch!

Click to enlarge
(Second thoughts: maybe not)

JIMENA This picture was received this evening with the following text: "Some local ladies enjoying a typical Spanish lunch!!!! As it was Ash Wednesday, there was no alcohol involved  -  honest!!!!" (Val of La Viña de Liñán is on the right. Thanks, Val!) Now then, if you really want to do this village of ours a good turn, send everyone on your list the link to this item ( http://campopulse.blogspot.com/2012/02/ladies-wot-lunch-wot-lunch.html, copy & paste it onto the e-mail) as proof that it is Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2010, and look at them, for gawd's sake! 

Horse killed in three-car accident

Often seen on Spanish roads
(Illustration only)

Fortunately, only one slightly injured victim

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) A horse got onto the A-7 road yesterday morning at 7.20, apparently escaped from a field next to the road, at Km 104, and caused one car to hit it, while two more following behind were unable to avoid it. One of the drivers was slightly injured and treated on the spot. The horse was killed as a result, while damage to the vehicles involved was serious enough for one of them to be towed away. The police have not said if the animal was chipped, as is required by law.

Cameron refuses to talk about sovereignty with Rajoy

Main item on agenda: the euro crisis
LONDON (Agencies) British Prime Minister David Cameron refused to talk about the sovereignty of Gibraltar with his Spanish counterpart, Mariano Rajoy, when the latter visited him yesterday at No. 10. The fact was not unexpected as Rajoy had announced his intentions but Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague had already said that the subject would not come up 'without the approval of the people of Gibraltar'. At the press conference after the meeting, Cameron said that there was no change in the Government's position, while Rajoy is quoted as saying that they "had different positions but we will talk in the future."

Police report false robbery statement and false ID at the Frontier

Illustration only

Man used false Spanish ID document at Gibraltar frontier

LA LÍNEA (Press release) The National Police arrested R.M.M., 53 accused of making a false statement when reporting her car stolen. Apparently she reported her Peugeot 307, registered in her name and supposedly stolen early in February. The keys had been left in the car,she said. She returned the following day to say that the car had been found in San Roque. When the police looked into the matter, they discovered that the car had eluded a routine check by the Guardia Civil Traffic Division, on the same day that it had been supposedly stolen. The woman was called in again and confessed to the false report, using as an excuse that she had only wanted to protect her son, who had been driving it. She was arrested and is now 'at the disposal of the courts'. In another matter, a Lithuanian man -U.N., 33- was detained at the border for using someone else's national identity card. When he he was challenged about the photo on the document, he insisted it was he. However, the Police were able to identify him in his real identity and he was arrested for using a false identity and is now 'at the disposal of the courts'.

La Tasca

Zara heiress rides away on her moneymoon

(Photo: elpais.com / Gabriel Tizón)

A CORUÑA (El País / Xosé Manuel Pereiro) As of Friday evening, the heiress to the Zara empire and rider Sergio Álvarez have something more in common than just horse-jumping competitions. Marta Ortega and her fiancé were wed at one of her father's Galician estates, Pazo do Drozo, in a relatively low-key ceremony with 200 guests that included very few family members, fewer representatives of the Inditex business empire, and lots of friends of the bride and groom. Among these, the only celebrities were Athina Onassis, herself heiress to a global fortune, and the Basque soprano Ainhoa Arteta, both of whose partners are also riders. Amancio Ortega, the wealthiest man in Spain and the seventh wealthiest in the world according to Forbes magazine, declared himself "happy" and "not at all nervous" hours before the ceremony. It was a rare public statement by a man who has made discretion a way of life.>>>

Watch out for this scam!

We got this from one of our Gmail e-mail accounts. It looks good but we are pretty paranoid about these things so we went to Google Help, where we posted some of the content of the e-mail, plus the address it had come from, starting it with ''Is this a scam?" In less than forty seconds we had the following reply  Yes! This mail is scam. Mail from Google only comes from @google.com domains, e.g. googleemployee@google.com. How's that for the internet?! Anyway, if you get one -and in our experience Gmail is the best in protection, but not invulnerable, like everything else- trash it immediately!

Mayor accuses predecessor of making 'irregular' payments

Gremio vehicle at International
Music Festival (© A.Bullrich)

Previous Council soon to be denounced for embezzlement

JIMENA (Agencies) Guillermo Ruiz (PP), Mayor of Jimena, yesterday announced that he and his team have recently discovered evidence of allegedly illegal payments to two companies by the previous Council headed by Pascual Collado (PSOE). Ruiz pointed out that these were monies that had been 'recognised' (or accepted) and paid without proper bills or receipts. Such is the case with Gremio, a company that was hired by the Council to help with the International Music Festivals, and which does similar work for other councils but only those of the socialist persuasion with less than 20,000 inhabitants. The other company allegedly implicated in this network of doubtful payments is one that has never had its relationship with the Town Hall clarified but got work without entering any tender. This too had bills accepted and paid for. On another related matter, Ruiz announced that his team has a series of suits prepared and ready for presentation soon, accusing the previous government of misappropriation of funds. This is related to the fact that the Council received grants of €250,000 to restore the castle and another €400,000 to build a geriatric centre in Estación, but the money was used for other things, which is the cause behind which Jimena is having so much trouble receiving its share of the Junta's PICA funds and has already had several properties embargoed.

Cortijo El Mesonero

Rajoy to bring up sovereignty with Cameron today

(Photo: travelpod)

'Constructive dialogue' on Gibraltar's future on the agenda

SPAIN/GIBRALTAR/UK (Agencies) Spain's Premier, Mariano Rajoy is in London today for a meeting with his British counterpart, James Cameron. While the EuroZone crisis heads the agenda, Rajoy intends to bring up the subject of Gibraltar sovereignty in what a pres release calls a 'constructive dialogue'. Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel García-Margallo had already told Britain's William Hague of Spain's intention of doing so, though only bilaterally, despite Britain's unwillingness to talks without including Gibraltar.

'Tour de Andalucía' rides through Campo de Gibraltar

Through Castellar they go!
(Photo: europasur.es/Erasmo Fenoy)

Sergio Abeja wins first stage

CASTELLAR (Agencies) The Vuelta de Andalucía flew through the Campo yesterday following the Ruta del Sol, starting at Atlanterra, through Tarifa, Algeciras and Los Barrios, turning uphill at the Los Timbales crossroads to and through Castellar, and on to the upper reaches of Alcaidesa and Sotogrande, then on up to Torreguadiaro towards the second stage (the race started in San Fernando) finish at Benalmádena. The third stage, from Málaga to Lucena, is tomorrow.

Spanish frontier workers and pensioners claim discrimination in Gibraltar

Also demand bus passes "to which they are entitled"

GIBRALTAR/LA LÍNEA (Press release) The Círculo de Pensionistas y Trabajadores Españoles en Gibraltar (Citypeg) insists that the workers and pensioners they represent are being discriminated against by the Rock's authorities. The confrontation is regarding the so-called Community Care benefit -some €600 per month, to which workers also contribute- is received only by pensioners living in Gibraltar, not by those living elsewhere. Francisco Ponce, Citypeg's president, said that he would be presenting his case at the investigative commission set up by La Línea Council that meets tomorrow, Wednesday. Aside from having Council representation, the commission is made up of the two similar organizations (the other is Ascteg), as well as union and political party representatives. "Workers who retire have a right to receive this benefit, to which they are forced to contribute during their working days," says Ponce. He is also asking that frontier workers and pensioners get the same treatment when it comes to bus passes, which, again, are only available to Rock residents. "We pay the same taxes as everyone else in Gibraltar, and the buses are Government run, so we have the same rights." The statement issued by Citypeg included criticism of the Minister of Labour, Joe Bossano, who "checks all work contracts and rejects the vast majority."

Lock your tools away, and your olives and avocados

Illustration only

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR As we have said before, the recession is behind a wave of petty crimes throughout the country. Aside from the ongoing internet scams (about which we warn you constantly), the usual and unusual suspects are getting hold of anything at all to make ends meet. This, of course, is their excuse although it doesn't excuse them at all. Among other things such as burglaries and pick-pocketing (as usual) there seem to be gangs of youngsters entering properties to steal tools out of sheds or building sites. One of them was caught last week as they were transporting €6,000-worth of tools from Gibraltar. They are also after harvests of fruit and vegetables from unguarded orchards: an entire harvest of olives was stolen from a grove in Jaén, overnight and destroying the entire plantation. More locally, a grove of avocados was raided in full daytime - just before the frost would have taken care of it anyway. It's time to batten down the hatches.

Violent police charge against student protesters in Valencia

Ten people seriously injured so far, dozens of arrests

VALENCIA (Agencies) As we write, protests against education cutbacks continue on the streets of Valencia, where the police have been charging against protesters that include minors as well as their parents and grandparents. Matters turned nasty this afternoon. One witness said she, her daughter and granddaughter, aged 15, were standing on the curb when the police charged without apparent notice. The girl is one of ten people with serious injuries, according to reports. Politicians have asked for the Minister of the Interior's presence in Parliament tomorrow.

Brilliant Spanish pianist to hold 'encounter' at Instituto Cervantes

Click to enlarge

GIBRALTAR More than just a concert, renown pianist Joaquín Achúcarro is coming to the Instituto Cervantes to offer what he calls 'an encounter' titled Memorias y Experiencias (Memories and Experiences). A good friend of his, and ours, says that it is wonderful to hear him speak. Zubin Mehta has said of him: "I have only heard this sound from Rubinstein." You can see what others say when you click on the image. The date is this coming Wednesday, Feb 22, at 7pm.

Thousands come out against labour reforms

Demo in Madrid
(Photo: EFE/Gustavo Cuevas)

Hundreds came out in Algeciras and other towns in the Campo de Gibraltar

SPAIN (Agencies) Yesterday was a day of protest all over the country - in 57 cities, mainly provincial capitals. The main unions, CC. OO. and UGT, convened the demonstrations in protest at the labour reforms approved the previous week by the Government, to be rubber-stamped by Congress soon. The major concentrations of protesters were, naturally, in the major cities, some of which reported only a few incidents. On the whole, the demos were without major problems, or, as one Deputy put it, they were an 'example of good democracy'. There were a few incidents in Valencia, where protests turned violent largely thanks to the usual troublemakers. Although it is not a capital city, the Campo demo was held in Algeciras, where several hundred people (as usual there is much discrepancy about the numbers) gathered in the Plaza Alta and went on to parade through the streets. Political parties were represented by those from all parties except, of course, the governing Partido Popular (PP). But what were they actually protesting about?>>>

Oba Bar & More

Union Jack Removals

Zara heiress weds today - her dress is not by Zara

Amancio Ortega and daughter Marta

Amancio Ortega is Spain's richest man and number 7 on the Forbes list

A CORUÑA (Agencies) This year's 'Wedding of the Year' has Marta Ortega marrying fellow horse enthusiast Sergio Álvarez this morning. The ceremony follows her father Amancio's way of life: very discreet, what is private is private, etc. Daddy did well with his Inditex empire, which includes not only Zara, retailing's vastly successful international example, but also such well known shopping mall brands as Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho and Zara Home. Yet none of them -we're thinking mainly of Zara, of course- ha designed her dress, and it certainly is not off the peg. As with so many of these enormous weddings, the dress designer's business will be on the up and up shortly after the ceremony. So it will be no wonder that, according to Spain's gossip mags, Marta has been travelling to New York to try her dress, as designed by Narciso Rodríguez, who also designed the dress worn by the unfortunate Carolyn Bessette when she married John J. Kennedy. He has designed also for Michelle Obama, Charlize Theron and Sarah Jessica Parker, among a host of celebrities. Today's wedding takes place in A Coruña, Daddy's birthplace, where most of the guests are staying at the five-star Finisterre Hotel. Several of them, the couple's most 'intimate' including Carlota Casiraghi and Atina Onassis (both of them 'horsies'), are being flown or shipped in at Amancio's expense.

Can you foretell the weather? Do you really want to?

Agricultural calendar, mosaic,
IV Cent., Zaragoza Museum

(WEEKEND SPECIAL) A very ancient practice in Spain, other parts of the Mediterranean and in South America, is called cabañuelas in Andalucía. The name, it is believed, comes from the Jewish festivities surrounding the Tabernacle. A Toledo document of 1450 mentions that the Jews hung forty cabañuelas in their section of the city in memory of the forty years the nation spent wandering the desert. As the festivity includes rites referring to weather prediction, the word could well have come into Castilian Spanish to mean just that. This, of course, is not necessarily true but the need to forecast the weather is as ancient as man: what would the weather be like when we all went off to kill a dinosaur? (You laugh, but you should have seen local hunters checking the weather a few days before they went out last Sunday - on the Internet, of course.)>>>

La Viña de Liñán

Avon

Arrested for contracting five phones with false ID

He later showed a real NIE document

LOS BARRIOS (Agencies) The Guardia Civil on Wednesday arrested a man after they noticed he had thrown something out of the window when being approached at the side of the road where he had parked. He had thrown out a false DNI (National Identity Document) and was asked for his real document that turned out to be a NIE (Númerode Identificación de Extranjero). A check of the car elicited five mobile phones, the contracts for which had been issued under the false ID card. The man was arrested and is accused of using a false document and of fraud.

Drunk Jimena driver sentenced in Jerez

Avda. Alcalde Álvaro Domecq, Jerez

Police had to transport confiscated vehicle with driver aboard because of 'the state he was in'

JEREZ (Agencies) A 41 year old resident of Jimena answering to the initials J.B.Z., was yesterday sentenced to a €1,100 fine plus a year and three months' suspension of his driving licence because of an incident that happened on April 2 last year, during a motorbike rally in that town. His erratic behaviour on a three-wheeler drew the attention of the police on Jerez's main avenue, Álvaro Domecq. The police report says he was "not wearing a helmet, lifting the vehicle's front wheel off the ground and accelerating unnecessarily." When he was stopped, they "observed evident signs of heavy drinking." The breathalyzer registered 0.75 mg of alcohol per litre of blood (legal limit: 0.25). The three-wheeled motorbike had to be was confiscated and had to be taken away with the driver still on board because of "the state of drunkenness he was in," according to one police witness.

Reader asks: do we really have to take the baby to the National Police to prove he exists?

(Illustration only)

Maybe one of our readers can answer this question (it's a very long time since Prospero had to deal with live babies): "When we applied for the baby's NIE number at the National Police station in La Línea, we were told that he had to be presented in person. This despite the fact that he has his own British passport and we had gathered all the documents needed to get his NIE. Has anyone been through this lately?" If you have, or know someone who has, please click on the word 'comments' below and tell us about it. We have to admit we were astonished by this one!