Beckham Departs Old Trafford
Went to Old Trafford last night to watch Man Utd totally dominate an embarrassingly poor AC Milan team, and to witness an amazing response to the return of David Beckham.
It was my father’s birthday last Saturday and as they are season ticket holders at United it seemed like a good [...]

Trying to describe the unrelenting bad weather we have had in Spain since before Christmas has been the main topic of discussion online and in person with people that I have been in touch with, so I thought I would include a quote (below) from the Telegraph On Line which summed it up pretty well. [...]

I have written a lot recently about food: the Mediterranean Lifestyle, Eating Habits In Spain, and a number of Restaurant Reviews ranging from Menú del Día’s to a Festival Of Octopus.
One reason for this is that Sands and I have been trying to settle on a balanced and healthy diet and lifestyle that reflects the [...]

I was in Aguadulce earlier today and read in a Spanish paper (can’t recall which one) that all the residents of Almerimar will soon receive a letter explaining what they should do to sort out the mosquito problem.
Implication was that it is down to Almerimar residents to sort the problem, but at the same time [...]

I recently had lunch at La Fantasia on Mojácar Playa. I nearly didn’t. It was our third choice. I do not mean that out of disrespect, just that the first two restaurants that had been suggested to me were closed on Tuesday lunchtimes. I really am not sure that I understand why in the current [...]

As you read this the chances are that you are having a drink and eating some food, more than likely in a bar or cafe, enjoying the Mediterranean Lifestyle that we expats are so attracted to.
The chances are also good that you are less likely to be consuming the Mediterranean Diet than this time last [...]

An analogy: if aliens existed and found their way down to earth and ended up landing in a hospital ward, it would be fair to assume that they would report back home that “everybody here is ill”, and the rest of their mates would head off in search of another planet ….
I use this in [...]

What is it with the Spanish and their hotels? Four years ago they built the Azata del Sol Hotel in El Algarrobico, Carboneras overlooking the beautiful Cabo de Gata Nijar Natural Park. Cabo de Gata is genuinely beautiful, regularly voted some of the best beaches in Spain, if not Europe. The Azata del Sol Hotel [...]

Had a drink with Mario earlier. In passing he told me that last night he had 34 plastic chairs stolen from outside his bar. Seriously, what a petty crime that is. Fair play to Mario he was very philosophical about it, but at the end of the day it is not something that he, or [...]

I love a fried egg, and since living in Spain have come to love the way they tend to cook them over here. Now I know you may well think that a fried egg is well, just a fried egg, but look at the one below and tell me it doesn’t look tempting, and a [...]

AN ALMERIA MAYORESS accused of land planning corruption yesterday hit back at her critics. Leonor Membrive (PSOE) is mayoress of the town of Gérgal, in the west of the province close to the Sierra... Click to read this story

Spanish golfing great is getting involved in the Andalucian Open

POPE Benedict XVI will visit Spain this November, his second visit to the country since he became Pope. It has been confirmed that he will be in Santiago de Compostela on November 6 and in Barcelona on November 7. In Barcelona, he will consecrate the Sagrada Familia, where a mass will be held in the centre nave, according to the Archbishop of Barcelona, Lluis Martinez Sistach.   Read more...

192 died on this day six years ago in the attacks carried out by Islamic radicals

RESIDENTS OF EL EJIDO have been making known their displeasure over the mosquito problem in the area. The problem comes from the Puntas Entinas natural park, next to the Almerimar port, which is... Click to read this story

Boffins try to unlock the secret behind female sexual desires

CARBONERAS - THE promoter of the controversial Algarrobico Hotel, Azata del Sol, in Carboneras has sent Greenpeace a bill for 195,222 euros considered to be the damage caused when 30 Greenpeace activists painted the word ‘Hotel Ilegal’ on the building in July 2007.   Read more...

VICAR - POLICE are searching for the authors of racist graffiti which appeared on the facades of several shops owned by immigrants in the town. They read ‘death to foreigners’, ‘let’s kill the Moors’ and ‘the Spanish first’, and are accompanied by neo-Nazi symbology. Read more...

ALMERIA - THE second phase of the new terminal of Almeria Airport is almost complete and it is hoped that it will be inaugurated some time near the end of this year. The new departures area was finished last June and was a significant improvement to the airport. The project has cost 37 million euros and included the demolition of part of the building dating back to the sixties. The number of check-in desks is being increased, as are the boarding gates and commercial areas, and the arrivals area is being refurbished. Read more...

A WOMAN WAS INJURED in Almeria city yesterday evening when a glass cornice fell on her. The accident occurred at around 18:30 in the central Paseo de Almeria shopping street. The glass and metal... Click to read this story

Despite recent reports that Spain itself was feeling “bullish” about the recession, it seems that expats living in Spain would do well to not get their hopes up and to continue to expect the recession to continue well into 2010. The Spanish economy is struggling to catch up with the European monetary union. The ...

Many expats living in Spain moved out to enjoy their retirement in the sun, relaxing and enjoying their hard earned pensions. I suspect that for many the concept of a offshore account never really occurred to them, perceiving it to be something for the rich or dodgy. However a growing number of British expats in Spain are moving their pensions offshore after reform in 2006 allowed long-term expatriates to set up the Qualifying Registered Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS). ...

Not good news for expats and regular travelers in Spain who travel tourist class with Iberia as they have announced they will be charging for second suitcases checked into the hold from 1st March 2010, in an attempt to lighten the planes, save fuel costs and speed up operations ….. no mention of making more money or reducing costs to passengers you note! ...

One issue high on every expats priority list when moving to live in Spain, when they have children, is the quality of the education that they will receive so the news that a new scheme will allow overseas schools to be accredited by the British Government for the first time will surely be pleaseing to note. ...

The Pound The Office for National Statistics has said that Industrial production in the UK fell unexpectedly in January, as the cold weather restricted companies working time. Output fell by 0.4% ...

First Round Knock Out Results: Second Leg 10th March

Man Utd 4 Milan 0 (Utd go through)
Real Madrid 1 Lyon 1 (Lyon go through)

The Pound The UK's trade gap with the rest of the world widened in January to its largest since August 2008. Exports saw their biggest drop in over three years, according ...

Catching up on a bit of local news online I read on The Reader that the 4 suspects jailed in “Operacion Poniente”(the investigation into the alleged corruption scandal at El ...

Here is the poster with details of the Windsurfing Championships to be held in Almerimar 1-4 April 2010.

Have agreed to take the photos and some video of the event .....

http://...

EVERY THURSDAYS FROM 8 TO 9 p.m. JUST FOR 10€

March, 11th menu

Starters

- "Caldo Gallego" (Typical Galician Soup).
- Cornish Pasties stuffed with Black Pudding..

Main Courses

- Roasted Mackerel ...

Come and Enjoy the best Taste of Spain only at
'El Arroz' Restaurant

Every Thursday from 8 to 9 p.m and JUST for 10€

Choose between two starters, two main courses and ...

Thanks to Olivia for sending through these prices for general public use of the Gym:

The AR hotel costs to use the GYM,sauna and Jacuzzi is 10 Euros per day ...

The Pound The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has claimed new instructions outpaced enquires from new buyers in February. This is the second month in a row. The rise in ...

Hello everybody. I am new to this forum and I am looking for small business.


Regards,
Jack.

Ironic for reasons that will become apparent later in the week but as I was taking Chris to the airport this morning we commented on the 4 men in Orange Boiler ...

The Pound with very little data out today the pound breaks above the 1.11’s.
However this could be very short lived with retail sales and Visible Trade Balance, data out ...

Monday March 8

Deportivo 3 - 1 Tenerife
Almería 2 - 2 Barcelona
R.Madrid 3 - 2 Sevilla
Osasuna 0 - 0 Getafe
Mallorca 3 - 0 Sporting
Espanyol 0 - 0 Villarreal
Málaga 2 - 4 Xerez
Athletic 2 - 0 Valladolid
R. ...

Week 29

Results

Saturday 6th March
Arsenal 3 - 1 Burnley
West Ham 1 - 2 Bolton
Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Man Utd

Sunday 7th March
Everton 5 - 1 Hull

http://almerimarlife.com/forum/img/PW29.png

Fixtures

...

6th Round Results

Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0
Fulham 0 Tottenham 0
Reading 2 Aston Villa 4
Portsmouth 2 Birmingham 0

Semi Final Draw

Aston Villa v Chelsea
Fulham or Tottenham v Portsmouth

To be played at Wembley ...

Todays market analysis and exchange rates from Currencies Direct
Exchange Rates
AUDEUR AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – EURO 0.6710
AUDGBP AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – STERLING POUND 0.6111
AUDUSD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9211
CADUSD CANADIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9403
EURMUR EURO – MAURITIUS RUPEE 41.3200
EURUSD EURO – US DOLLAR 1.3628

The weather today in Almerimar is sunny, warm, bright and no wind! Elsewhere across Spain the forecast is for yet more unstable weather as another front crosses the country.
Spanish Meteorological Office Alerts (AMET)
Orange Alerts: none.
Yellow Alerts: none.
Snow line
North: 100m – 600m
South: 900m – 1600m
Wind
Moderate from the North with occasional strong gusts.
Temperatures
Highs: Santa Cruz de [...]

Dry, sunny and no wind in Almerimar this morning which is a nice change, and across Spain it will be a lot drier as the rain gives way to some pretty cold weather with 30 regions on alert for the cold.
Spanish Meteorological Office Alerts (AMET)
Orange Alerts: Cold – Barcelona, Girona and Lleida.
Yellow Alerts: Cold [...]

Todays market analysis and exchange rates from Currencies Direct
Exchange Rates
AUDEUR AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – EURO 0.6740
AUDGBP AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – STERLING POUND 0.6128
AUDUSD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9211
CADUSD CANADIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9403
EURMUR EURO – MAURITIUS RUPEE 41.3200
EURUSD EURO – US DOLLAR 1.3560

Todays market analysis and exchange rates from Currencies Direct
Exchange Rates
AUDEUR AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – EURO 0.6687
AUDGBP AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – STERLING POUND 0.6068
AUDUSD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9211
CADUSD CANADIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9403
EURMUR EURO – MAURITIUS RUPEE 41.3200
EURUSD EURO – US DOLLAR 1.3616

Wet and miserable here in Almerimar which pretty much sums up the general weather forecast for Spain again today.
Spanish Meteorological Office Alerts (AMET)
Orange Alerts: none.
Yellow Alerts: none.
Snow line
North: 300m
Centre: 500m
South: 900m
Wind
Generally from the North and weak to moderate
Temperatures
Highs: Santa Cruz de Tenerife 24, Almería 15, Alicante, Murcia, Valencia 14, Málaga 13, Palma de Mallorca [...]

Todays market analysis and exchange rates from Currencies Direct
Exchange Rates
AUDEUR AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – EURO 0.6666
AUDGBP AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – STERLING POUND 0.6011
AUDUSD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9211
CADUSD CANADIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9403
EURMUR EURO – MAURITIUS RUPEE 41.3200
EURUSD EURO – US DOLLAR 1.3668
EURZAR EURO – SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 10.0791
GBPAED STERLING POUND – UAE DIRHAM 5.5733
GBPAUD STERLING POUND – AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 1.6619
GBPBGN STERLING POUND – BULGARIAN LEV 2.1676
GBPCAD STERLING POUND – CANADIAN DOLLAR 1.5563
GBPCHF STERLING POUND – [...]