ACE FM 106.8 - Greetings Pop Pickers!It's already May 2008 but the weather seems to have changed since we last spoke: rain, wind, thunderstorms - we've had it all ! Cudeca Cancer Care - I do not know if you are aware but there is a very real chance that the in-patients department at CUDECA may well have to close through under funding. My husband benefited from their fantastic care, but sadly he died in December, however their dedication and care was so fantastic I cannot praise them enough. Because of this I wrote an article called Alan's story about his illness and CUDECA. Alan’s Story……. My husband Alan was diagnosed with terminal cancer three and a half years ago. He battled valiantly against this horrendous disease. He attended Carlos Haya hospital during this time, undergoing an operation and enduring years of chemotherapy without complaint in order to prolong his life. The medical staff were fantastic and did all they could to help him. Sadly he lost his battle last December. During the latter period of his illness we were told about CUDECA the cancer charity and told to go and register with them as they could help with palliative care. Alan’s doctor, Dr Benavidez also urged us to make contact with them. I made the first tentative steps in November of 06 and made an appointment for us to go to the hospice in Arroyo de la Miel. The building is quite impressive and the first feeling you have when you walk through the door is that of calmness. The staff in reception, mostly volunteers are all friendly and speak both Spanish and English (they may well speak other languages I do not know). On our first visit we met with the medical staff who, were all caring and could not do enough for us. We had a couple of further appointments to see how Alan and I were coping and they were very encouraging and you came away feeling that you were not alone. Anyone who has had experience of this wonderful charity will understand what I mean. In 2005 the hospice through donations, legacies etc opened a new wing the in-patients department. This is a self contained section in the centre. There are 9 rooms with en-suite facilities and private terraces. There is a small lawn, pergolas and a fish pond, views from the rooms and terraces are down to the Mediterranean, it gives out a feeling of peace and tranquillity in a place where there is real sorrow. There is a visitor’s room and a small place for people to have their own thoughts in worship together with the normal rooms for nursing staff and doctors. Whoever designed this place wants a medal as it is such a soothing and calming area. In September of last year Alan’s illness progressed rapidly and the wonderful doctor and nurse, Pablo and Oscar came out to see us in our own home. They were kind but I knew it was only a matter of time before Alan would leave me because they made me aware of this and said Alan should be in hospital. Three days before he died we took him into the in-patients department. The care and attention that is given from the compassionate staff is no understatement. I and our family were told what was happening and we can never ever thank them enough for making Alan’s last days as comfortable as is humanly possible in these horrid situations. We never paid a penny for all the treatment, visits or medication they gave us. We managed to raise over 1000euros in donations for the charity from family and friends who wished to remember Alan. So it was with shock and horror that I received a letter from the charity to say that sadly unless they can find further funding for this unit it may well have to close by the end of the year they have a shortfall in funding to the tune of 500.000euro not a small sum. The letter in effect asked all who had benefited from their loved ones being in the hospice if they could contribute on an annual basis, this I will be doing. But it surely will not be enough so I am asking for help from anyone I can. CUDECA is a special place that is needed and will always be needed closing the in-patients department must not happen. Please can you help? By a donation or monthly/annual subscription anything!. to help this wonderful charity keep this unit open. One day you or one of your relatives may need their help. My heart is very heavy as I write this it is so important there is nothing else like the hospice here on the Costa del sol. Please Please Help. You can contact the charity directly their website is www.cudeca.org look under donations for ways to pay. Or you can contact them by email cudeca@cudeca.org or phone 00 34 952564910. Many Many thanks Jean Sampson. You can contact me directly on jeanlaguita@hotmail.com if you want any help. This article is written solely by me it is how I see the hospice through my own eyes.
We at the SOL Classic Car Club are very pleased to announce to everyone that with our expanding membership we are able to organise ever more interesting runs and events as each month passes. The help and advice with the cars themselves and the social support extended by members to each other is very welcome indeed. Recently we have added an additional monthly evening to our normal activities for members seeking technical advice on specific aspects of their classic car. At these technical meetings we have invited guests that have distinguished themselves in some area of automotive engineering. Another dimension to a fast growing club welcomed by all. April's technical meeting is to be held on Monday 14th April at the Streets of London. This month’s subject is "The inventions of Frederick Lanchester and their relevance to today's motoring". There will also be a short film about a fifties rally and, a classic motoring quiz. The meeting will finish with a general chat session where we try to answer members questions on classic or modern cars. Although called “petrol heads meeting”, you do not have to be a petrol head to attend and enjoy the evening, as questions and subjects are presented in layman's terms . The night starts at 19.00 for those wishing to eat in the main restaurant, then at 20.00 sharp we retire to the annex where the screen is set up and the meeting proper starts. Our monthly Classic Car run started at the La Montanera restaurant on the A-7000. As usual the run was organised by one of the members who had decided to hold it in the Lake Vinuela area, one of the most beautiful parts of the country. The weather was stunning and so were the views. We drove through the The next SOL Classic Car Club meeting is on the 6th May 2008 at the El Chaparal Golf and Country Club in Mijas Costa at 19.30 with a run planned for the 10th May 2008. New members are always welcome, for further details of the Club’s activities visit www.solclassiccarclub.net or email the Club secretary at jean@solclassiccarclub.net The village of Casarabonela (Malaga) will be holding a “ Birdwatching Experience” from 28th May – 1st June to view the wonderful birds of this region. The days include excursions with local guides, seminars and a visit to a bird sanctuary, all with lunch included. For further information and prices, contact Casarabonela Tourist office. Tel 952 456 067 or alternatively Tel 952 456 127 (English). Scottish Singer Samantha Mairs could not believe her eyes when she opened a letter from Spain which had the logo of the Marbella Town Hall boldly printed on it. With baited breath she read the Spanish text thanking her for the gift of the song ‘‘Marbella Marbella’’ and wishing her every future success. Fate had taken her hand. Who would believe that a girl from Motherwell, would receive a letter of thanks written and signed by none other than the dynamic Angeles Munoz the new Mayoress of Marbella, one of the most glamorous and prestigious towns in all Europe. In 1991 her parents, Samantha and her brother Robert emmigrated to the Costa Del Sol where she started her singing career and quickly displayed a talent for entertaining holidaymakers and residents alike. She sang and acted in numerous stage presentations and along with her father David, a professional musician, sang on BBC’s Songs of Praise. Sam had her own late night radio show on Central FM and soon became one of the Costa del Sol’s top entertainers. She returned to Motherwell in 2001 and, after becoming established as a well known personality vocalist, returned to full time education at University doing a degree course in corporate communications and business study. Samantha is back singing and is now one of the top acts in Scotland. Samantha says ‘‘I was thrilled to be asked to record the song Marbella Marbella and I hope that a recording company will take the song and make it as popular as Viva Espana. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of Europe were singing the praises of Marbella instead of reading one sided negative press’’. On February 19, Samantha presented the song on Radio Clyde FM during an interview about her support for the Costa del Sol initiative. She was also featured in an article in the Scottish national newspaper ‘‘The Sunday Post.’’ The fight to defend the reputation of the Costa del Sol and Marbella began in Sweden April 2007, when Scottish composer, author, and painter Dario Poli, saw a CCN TV documentary on Marbella and the Costa del Sol which painted a very negative image of his adored Marbella. Outraged by the one-sided depiction, Dario the co-author of the dramatic musical drama ‘‘Lady X And The Power of Destiny,’’ (based on the life of the late Diana Princess of Wales) decided there and then, to do something about it, so he wrote the music for a song which he titled ‘‘Marbella, Marbella’’ expressing his affection for the town and the Costa del Sol. Returning to Mijas Golf, he added the lyrics with professional singer Alan De Ward and registered the song, with S.G.A.E in Malaga. Following a meeting with musical arranger and producer David Mairs; the song was sung by Alan and recorded in David’s studio in Fuengirola. The catchy tune began to take off and since that CCN programme, what began as Dario’s one-man fight for Marbella, has intensified and the song is now played on most major radio stations on the Costa del Sol. The song was presented by Laura Stanbridge, the organizer of the BCCS & CIT Symposium held in November 2007, attended by the Mayoress of Marbella, Angeles Munoz; the Councilor for Tourism of Marbella Jose Luis Hernadez; publicist Max Clifford, and other heads of the business community. Dario, David and supporters have a new website costadelsolvoice.com and are working with the media to have the song played all over Europe with the hope of spreading a positive image of Marbella. Samantha will be performing the song Marbella Marbella at the Rhys Daniels Trust Celebrity Golf Challenge at La Cala Hotel and golf resort which runs from the 5th to the 8th of June and will also be performing on Friday the 6th of June at Club La Costa. EXPOSED: THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT’S £37 MILLION I.O.U TO BRITS
Thousands of Britons who have sold a property in Spain between March 2004 and December 2006 could be owed a 20% tax rebate to the tune of £37 million - £11,000 each, including interest - as a result of a Spanish Government Capital Gains Tax (CGT) scam exposed today by Spanish lawyers, Costa, Alvarez, Manglano & Associates and currency exchange brokers HiFX. British non residents who sold their Spanish properties during this period paid a Spanish Non Residents’ Income Tax rate of 35% on any capital gains, compared to a rate of 15% paid by Spanish nationals. This 20% overpayment not only totals a profit somewhere in the region of £37 million, but also contravenes European Community Treaty rules on discrimination and therefore was unduly charged by the Spanish Government. Placing an actual figure on the amount of people affected by this is very difficult, as the Spanish Government understandably does not want to disclose this information. However, one of the UK’s leading currency specialists, HiFX, believes a conservative estimate is in the region of 4,500 British people, plus thousands more residents in other European countries, each paying an average of £14,000 each in capital gains, having sold property in Spain over the 3 year period. People who sold property previous to January 2004 have already missed out, as claims can only be made dating back over a four year period, meaning millions more have become victim to this tax trap. HiFX, together with the Spanish lawyers are calling for British people to come forward and register their details to be part of what could be the biggest class action against the Spanish tax authorities for many years. Commenting on the issue, Spanish Lawyer Emilio Alvarez said: “Anyone who has sold a Spanish property between March 2004 and December 2006 will have been victim to this inflated capital gains tax rate, which saw non residents scammed into paying inflated CGT bills by as much as 20%. This tax trap is thought to have affected hundreds of thousands of people across Europe and in the UK. “A change in the law at the start of 2007, which saw the standard Capital Gains Tax for non residents being brought in line – a reduction from 35% to 15% , passed by largely unnoticed. As a result, thousands of people who had previously sold property in Spain are entitled to a 20% rebate, thought to average at £11,000 each including interest. Due to stringent legal restrictions people who bought at the end of 2003 have already missed out, as claimants must register within 4 years, but thousands of Brits can still join forces and fight to get the Spanish tax authorities to pay back the money owed.” For more information, and details of how to register your interest, visit : or call the helpline on 0044 (0)845 680 3849 or email: info@spanishtaxreclaim.co.uk
|
SOL Classic Cars calling all Petrol Heads