Happy Birthday Female Focus
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The gift of... chickens Recently, members of the Costa
Blanca Business Association (CBBA), presented a cheque for 275€ to Tony Grande, principal of Make- A-Smile. The money will be used to buy chickens for the Make-A-Smile
Relleu Project. Make A Smile is a ‘feeder’
charity supporting Emaus, which in turn support
children who are ‘rescued’ from unfortunate circumstance. The Relleu Project was started to address the issue of charitable sustainability and was borne of a very generous land donation. Instead of keep asking for cash, the Relleu Project is slowly but surely turning into a self-sufficient farm, growing olives, vegetables and grapes. They currently have around 120 chickens which of course lay eggs. The food grown helps to feed the children on the Emaus houses, with the long term goal that the produce is sold and the money ploughed back in to support the feeding of the children. Chickens are an interesting investment. They are purchased for around 10€ but over the course of a year can generate 172€ worth of eggs. In this way what may seem like a modest investment of 275€, will turn into nearly 5000€ per year. The CBBA members felt that sustainable giving – which is viewed more as an investment – was a more appropriate form of support and in line with its own aims of ‘generating income for all its members through networking and business referrals’. The 275€ was raised at a CBBA quiz evening raffle. Photo: Keith Littlewood (Treasurer CBBA) Presents cheque for 275€ to Tony Grande (Principal of Make-A-Smile).
Mark Shearman takes a light hearted look at some of the current news stories
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
The title of the famous song by Noel Coward: ‘Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun’, satirised the unwillingness of English people to adopt the age old custom of taking a siesta during the heat of the day in hot climates.
It wasn’t long ago there were talks of abandoning the siesta and becoming more in line with the rest of Europe and working through the afternoon so people could be at home earlier. Spanish campaigners pushed to end the timezone anomaly, claiming it would boost productivity and improve civil society. The different working hours came when General Franco, seeking to please his German fascist ally in 1942, changed the times to sync with the rest of Europe, but because of the position of the sun meant Spain ate lunch at 2pm and dinner at 9pm instead of 1pm and 8pm. I supposed this latest relentless heatwave has reminded some people why they had siestas in the first place. The town of Ador up the coast from Denia are adamant they are installing a curfew between the hours of 2pm and 5pm banning the use of anything that expels a decibel above an alarm clock including children playing out and businesses operating.
The siesta was originally taken by agricultural
workers toiling in the
baking sun preferring to stop working in the afternoons and take the time to catch up on a few Zzzs until the sun relented and then back to work in the evening refreshed. Work environments
dictate workers aren’t subject
changing attitudes: office, shop and factory
the to
the elements and probably have air- conditioning. The majority of office staff rarely take a siesta and view two to three hours too long for lunch, most grabbing a bite at their work stations and think they would rather start work between 7.30am and 9am, finishing work no later than 6pm so they can spend time with their children or peruse other activities.
Police Swoop Expat as he Staggers to his Car
British expat Mr Ingram, on leaving his 40th birthday party this week, was some what worst for wear, especially when he left his local bar around midnight. The Spanish Police had set up a check point across the road as part of a routine schedule, and stood in horror as they watched Mr Ingram take ten minutes to walk a short distance to his parked car, and another ten trying to open the door. Eventually, his wife came out of the bar and joined him as he opened the door and slumped into the seat. The police
were already walking towards him with the intention of stopping him breaking the law, and to save him from doing serious injury to himself and others. The car, obviously had been there most of the afternoon, as he had a sun shade still attached to the windscreen. The Police opened the door, and Mr Ingram sprang from the car and proceeded to stagger about incoherent - two steps forward three steps back. It was only when his wife started the car from her side did the Police realise that he was in fact, the owner of a British Spanish registered car (the driver-side being on the right). Red face, the Police still cautioned Mr Ingram for being un poco borracho in public and waved them on.
Mark Shearman has been living on the Costa Blanca for 14 years his blog is Sherm Donor
http://shermdonor.blogspot.com.es/ where you can find his latest novel Flip Flop Flamenco.
Female Focus
COMMUNITY NEWS
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