Novena 2013 - the full programme

JIMENA Estación Starting today and until Sunday, August 1, are the celebrations for the 2013 Novena, in honour of Jimena's patron saint, Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles (Our Lady Queen of the Angels), the last of the local ferias this year. The programme below (no time to translate, sorry) will tell you that the whole thing kicks off at 7pm this evening with a parade through the streets of Estación, headed towards the coronation of this year's Queen of the Fair. Among other activities featured are the 33rd edition of the Flamenco Festival, the 26th of the 'Michigan' Urban Mile, the popular Mojá (officilly Mojada Popular, where everyone gets very wet), the 36th edition of the cooking competition (Concurso Platos Típicos), plus several equestrian events (separate programme below, too), chess competitions, and a little train to ferry the kids (okay, you can ride it, too), and more - and then, the beautiful Procession of Our Lady that brings it all to an end on Sunday evening. Complete Main Events Programme, plus equestrian events, below>>>

All about the Feria in Jimena

JIMENA We haven't had time to translate the programme this year, but you can see all daily updates, photographs and reports on our colleagues, TioJimeno. Although we much prefer this Feria de Mayo to the Feria de Agosto, we will eventually get down there with a camera, but, for the first time in the seven years since JimenaPulse started in 2007, we will not be offering a full report, only the occasional photo and comment. (We will be attending a hush-hush opening this afternoon, but will only reveal what it is after the event - if we survive it.)

270 Jimena residents benefit from different parts of the Dependent's Law

JIMENA (Press release) The so-called Ley de Dependencia ('Dependance Law' is another translation) allows for help and support for those who are dependent on others for their care, and/or the carers themselves. It is a national law but in terms of Jimena, the Department of Equality and Welfare headed by Councillor Mercedes Segovia, announces that some 270 residents of the municipality benefitted from the law last year. Of these, 187 received financial support for caring within the home, while the rest (83) were given caring assistance by the Servicio de Ayuda a Domicilio, which is presently carried out by ACASA, a concession company via Diputación de Cádiz. In Jimena, this company employs 40 staff, of which 8 were new last year. Staffing forecasts say that about 10 new people could be taken on during 2011.>