TRAGIC DEATHS

There has been disturbing news recently of children drowning and babies dying after being left in cars. Several instances of toddlers drowning in home swimming pools were reported. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children. Close supervision of youngsters around water whether it’s a paddling pool, swimming pool or at the beach is absolutely essential. You can’t take your eyes off them for a second.

In Summer, babies left in closed cars for even a short time are at risk as temperatures rise about 19 degrees in 10 minutes quickly turning the car into an oven. The most recent event occurred in Spain when a father drove to work for a meeting with his two-year-old in the back. He was supposed to take the child to nursery but simply forgot he was there. Three hours later the father returned to the car to find his son suffering convulsions. Despite hospital treatment, he died four days later.

Whether you’re a visitor or a resident here, you need to be aware of changes when you use your credit or debit card. When you pay for articles in a store, you will be asked if you want to pay in GBP or Euros. You’d think it was an easy option to pay in pounds when using a British card but you’d be wrong. The exchange rate is poor and the handling fee high. Salespeople are supposed to offer you the option but unfortunately some don’t do this. Now the option is coming to ATMs when you will see the prompt ‘Press YES for GBP or NO for Euros’. Press NO! LloydsTSB advise customers not to convert their transactions to sterling.

A Black Stork chick was born in Jerez Zoo recently. Only one of the two eggs hatched but the chick is thriving and weighs over a kilo. This is the first of the endangered Black Stork breed to have been born in captivity in Spain. The parents came from a zoo in Prague in 1998 and this is the first time the zoo has had success in breeding. Meanwhile, an Asian elephant was born in Selwo Park, Estepona in July. Again a first for Spain, the baby elephant, Malaga Samy, is doing very well. It will feed on its mother’s milk for the first two years.

Disabled passengers will have a helping hand at Malaga airport after a new support system was put in recently. When departing they will be accompanied through the check-in, passport control right into the plane. On the return journey, they will have help disembarking, picking up luggage, passing through security controls and being delivered to the meeting point. Requests for this service must be made 48 hours beforehand.

On the down-side, high fuel costs have caused budget airlines to cut flights. Spanair have closed 9 routes within Spain and have only two centres remaining, Madrid and Barcelona. Those who have already booked flights with them should call 902929996 to check. Ryanair have cut their fleet in Stansted and 7 of their Spanish bases are closing temporarily. They are however introducing a Winter Sun service between Malaga and Stansted in October and will be flying three times a week. Meanwhile, stunning statistics revealed that there were 237,000 passengers and 1500 flights at Malaga airport on the last weekend of July. Top flight news must be the proposed merger between BA and Iberiawhich will make it the largest and most important company in the world.

Government Ministers argued the toss over wearing ties and now a Malaga taxi driver has been fined by local Police for wearing shorts ‘at work’. Apparently, the legislation for taxi drivers requires them to wear long trousers. The driver, who was sporting cool ‘pirates’ complained that it was too hot to wear trousers when temperatures were over 30 degrees and threatened to continue wearing shorts despite the fine.

Victoria Hislop signed copies of her new novel ‘The Return’ in Bookworld recently. The story is set in Granada during the period of the Civil War. Inspired by a visit to Lorca’s birthplace, she started researching the history of the war and developed her story. For those interested in learning about what happened during that time, this would be a great place to start.

Nudist bathers at Guadalmar, Malaga, have complained that too many people are not taking off their clothes! They would like to have a clear sign saying that it is a Nudist Beach where it is compulsory to remove all clothing. The nudist beach in Benalmadena not only has notices but enforces this rule with fines. Guadalmar bathers want the same for their beach.

Malapesquera, Benalmadena now has disabled access. Wanting beach access for all, Mayor Javier Carnero inaugurated access points for the handicapped so they can bathe there. 20 sunbeds, 10 sunshades, adapted showers and toilets have been installed with on-site support.

ANTEQUERA ANTICS

The British Triathlon Team came to Antequera in July for their final preparations for the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. The tri-athletes chose this areas for its hills, terrain, food and climate and stayed at Hotel Antequera Golf. Within the British team are world champions such as TimDon and William Clare and British champion Hollie Avil. They aim to wrest the gold medal from the Spainiards Javier Gomez Noya and Ivan Rata, outstanding triathletes who are the favourites for Beijing. The British team cycled up to El Torcal twice and plan to return to Antequera after, they joked, they have robbed Spain of the gold medal.

Hotel Antequera Golf has started up its Show Nights once again. Every Thursday at 10pm they are holding either a Magic Show or Jazz at the Clubhouse. On Fridays at 10pm there will be Flamenco Shows on the terraces of the Hotel.

Once again, the monuments of Antequera are being illuminated and opened at night. Luz de Luna, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, provides free guided tours of the monuments. Pick up the bus from Hotel Antequera Golf at 9pm or Plaza Castilla at 9.15pm. This runs until 12 September.

Five tame bulls made their bid for freedom from the Abattoir in the industrial centre of Humilladero, one recent afternoon, setting off for the town’s refuse dump. Out came the Civil Guard, guards from a neighbouring reserve and town workers to round them up. With various cars they tried to herd the bulls into the centre of the dump and were almost there when a siren went off startling the bulls into a stampede. The bulls headed for the petrol station Los Almendros, next to the motorway to Sevilla. According to a town spokesman, before risking an invasion of the motorway by bulls and because one started attacking the barrier, the Civil Guard was obliged to shoot one. Reminiscent of the pigs which escaped from an English abattoir and were later saved, this story did not have such a happy ending as the other four bulls were shot as they were heading towards Mollina along a service road.

Villanueva de Tapia have installed this system to provide cheaper internet access and better telephone service for all those who live in the area. There are also various free WiFi points for laptops without the need for contracts. Informative talks are being given to explain the benefits of WiFi.

A New Lawn Bowls Club is to open at the Lauro Golf Club where it is hoped to hold Open Tournaments and to form a link with other clubs. New and experienced bowlers are welcome.Lauro Golf Club has a Golf School, Equestrian Centre, tennis and paddle courts.

Everyone in this town can now sleep safely in their beds as it now has 24-hour fire coverage after an extension of the original 9am to 9pm opening hours brought about by an increase in the number of firefighters.

Water is becoming seriously scarce in some country areas. Lorries are now delivering water to Comenar and Competa residents have suffered water cuts which lasted several days. It appears that one of the wells which provides water for the town has dried up. Rio Gordo Town Hall now cuts water supplies between midnight and 7am. These areas usually have cuts during the Summer but it seems that each year the situation worsens.

Estepona is to host another Over 50s Show in November of this year after the huge success of last year. There are to be displays, exhibitions and presentations on subjects such as Health, Finance, Consumer Rights, Legal Issues, Antiques and Gardening. New this year are Cosmetics, Fashion make overs, Pet advice, Wine Tasting and Crafts.