Welcome to DigameXtra !
The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its subscribers, followers & Editor. Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Posting Privileges: Subscribers need to open at least one email issue of DigameXtra every 2 weeks to maintain their posting privileges. If you fail to open an issue for more than 2 consecutive weeks, your subscription may be flagged as inactive and you may be automatically blocked from making submissions, although you will continue receiving daily issues. If you get blocked, and you then make a submission, you will receive a notice with instructions on how to remove the block. All sponsors and donors to the latest DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser (currently 2023) are exempt from this restriction.
Update: Some people have asked why this change is necessary. It is due to EU Internet anti-spam regulations. I can send anybody email issues, but for me to post submissions from outside sources, the subscribers, I must now meet the well known “KYC” (Know Your Client) requirement. Their logic is that people I have regular successful email contact with are less likely to abuse their posting ability. I don’t inspect the items I post for sale to know if the descriptions are accurate, and I can’t always verify other info in submissions. To relieve myself of responsibility for errors and scams from rogue subscribers, as well as other abuses I don’t want to disclose for security reasons, I must follow the KYC. This is the same reason I require the location of the sender in every submission, and that your email account has your real name as the account name. Having your name & location, and you completing a full email cycle on a regular basis, along with some other geeky things too complex to explain here, all this helps me meet the KYC requirement. An email cycle refers to exchanged emails- email issues sent daily, email opened by subscriber at least once every 2 weeks, reader sends submission from that same email address, I open submission email- completing the contact cycle. Believe me, I don’t just come up with this stuff to give myself more work- EU technocrats do! Your cooperation is appreciated. -Ed.
If Your Submission Is Not Posted: If your submission does not appear on schedule, check the Submission Rules Page for answers and send in a corrected submission. If you still cannot figure out the problem, you may email for help, but the reply may take a few days. Sponsors and donors to the latest DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser (currently 2023) will always receive prompt replies to incorrect submissions. Your cooperation is appreciated!
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Readership Drive: There are now 4908 subscribers. I would like to break the 5000 mark by New Years Day. Please help me achieve this goal by forwarding issues to your friends and recommending they subscribe to DigameXtra. For those readers who cannot afford to make holiday fundraiser donations, this is a good way for you to contribute to this project with no expense. Thank you.
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Upcoming Holidays:
– National holiday, Friday, 1 Nov, is All Saints Day.
Businesses and banks will be closed. Most shops, bars, cafés and restaurants will, however, be open for business as usual.
In Spain, every 1st of November is All Saints’ Day, to remember Christian saints who do not have their own Saint day. However, due to All Souls Day being on the very next day, the meaning of All Saints’ Day has expanded as a day to remember all those who have departed. In fact, more flowers are sold in Spain on All Saints’ Day than on any other day of the year.
DigameXtra Will Be Closed Friday, 1 Nov,
For The National Holiday.
Posts scheduled for the Friday Weekend Edition, 1 Nov, will be posted one day early on Thursday, 31 Oct.
What’s On
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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PHOENIX CLUB
Phoenix Club: The Phoenix Social Club is open to all nationalities but the lingua franca is English.
We offer an opportunity to make friends, help each other & share information but primarily to have fun in a friendly and inclusive association. You do not have to be a member to join us on our trips.
Our handmade greetings cards are for sale weekly with all proceeds to the Red Cross.
We meet every Thursday between 12 and 2 pm at Chine in Caleta, just off the coast road to/from Algarrobo.
***Trips/Events***
All trips/events include a drivers gratuity
October
– 26th – Trip to Yunquera Wine and Chestnut Festival with plenty of other traditional products to taste. €18pp
November
– 5th – Trip to Gib €18 pp pick up Algarrobo Lidl at 08.30
– 7th – Open Day at Chine, come and meet us and enjoy a free coffee or Tea, a plate of sandwiches and cake.
– 15th – A visit to Rute and the Anise, Chocolate and Jamon/Sausage factories. €22pp lunch extra
– 21st – Craft Fair/Home bake sale at Chines, Caleta de Velez. From Christmas cakes and puds to sausage rolls and steak pies. Orders taken. If you would like a table to sell your Craft wares, please whatsapp me.
– 29th – Black Friday in the La Canada Centre €20pp
December
– 3rd – Trip to Gib €18pp
– 13th – Malaga Lights €10pp
– 23rd – 27th – Our annual Christmas break is in the historical city of Cadiz, staying in a 4* Boutique hotel. Please email for more information.
For information call Gail on 951067723 / 626370695 (Whatsapp) email phoenixsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk check out our FB page.
We are DigameXtra sponsors and our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.
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Malaga Jazz Festival 2024: 2-9 Nov
Cervantes Theatre, Malaga
– Saturday 2 November – US jazz pianist legend, Fred Hersch, visits Malaga Jazz Festival for the first time. He’ll be showcasing pieces from his second album, Silent Listening. Tickets from €11.
– Sunday 3 November – the trio of Benavent (electric bass guitar), Di Geraldo (drums) and Pardo (sax and flute) will offer their Concert for Malaga, with a compilation of previous pieces that combine their jazz/flamenco fusion style. Single ticket price of €24.
– Monday 4 November – The Golden Age of Spanish Jazz celebrates the current boom in young jazz musicians in Spain, with ten of the best on stage. The line-up consists of a male trio, a female trio and a mixed trio. Single ticket price of €24.
– Tuesday 5 November – Brazilian singer/pianist Eliane Elias showcases her renowned jazz skills, combining orthodox jazz, classical music and Brazilian themes. Marc Johnson on double bass and Rafael Barata on drums join her on stage. Tickets from €15. Discounts not applicable to tickets for this concert.
– Wednesday 6 November – trumpet player Chief Adjuah, previously known as Christian Scott, is known for his jazz fusion skills. In this concert, he and four other musicians perform, combining musical tradition from Western Africa with innovative jazz and music from his home town, New Orleans. Tickets from €12.
– Thursday 7 November – Brazilian Egberto Gismonti {Video Link} brings his unique piano and guitar talent to Malaga, with a concert showcasing traditional Brazilian folk tunes with classical music. Gismonti is known for his creation of sounds, as if an orchestra were on stage. Tickets from €11.
– Friday 8 November – double bass player Christian McBride plays homage to his mentor and inspiration, Ray Brown. Joining him on stage are Benny Green on piano and Greg Hutchinson on drums. Tickets from €12.
– Saturday 9 November – the final night at the Malaga Jazz Festival sees Pat Metheny on stage, with his unique jazz/rock fusion style. Metheny will play no less than 12 guitars during his performance, which includes pieces from his most recent albums, Dream Box and MoonDial. Tickets from €22. Discounts not applicable to tickets for this concert.
– The Cervantes Theatre applies the usual discounts when you buy tickets to 3 or more concerts: 3 or more concerts – 15% off; 5 ore more concerts – 20% off.
Note that the above discounts don’t apply to the Eliane Elias and Pat Metheny concerts.
Info & tix: https://www.teatrocervantes.com/en/genero/musica/38-festival-internacional-de-jazz/
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Tap or click map for updated forecast
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NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender's First Name / Nearest Town
NOTE: YOU MAY ADDITIONALLY INCLUDE A LOCATION TO MEET OR PICKUP, BUT YOUR LOCATION IS REQUIRED IN ANY CASE. Including only the statement "for collection from..." is NOT sufficient!
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Services Wanted/Offered
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra.
Landlords, tell your renters about DigameXtra, where they can get overnight answers to questions about local stuff without having to call you!
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HANNINGTONS KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS
Hanningtons Kitchens and Bathrooms: We have been installing kitchens and bathrooms here on the Costa for 13 years. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, highest standards of work and customer service.
Whether you are thinking of updating an existing kitchen or bathroom, or whether you wish to create the kitchen or bathroom you have always dreamed of, we are here for you, every step of the way.
With an unrivaled knowledge of the best local materials and suppliers we are able to work to all tastes and budgets.
Our full range of services includes:
– Installations and Refurbs
– Wall & Floor tiling
– Full range of Plumbing work including radiators and underfloor heating
– Solar Installation
– Design & planning ideas to get the look you are after
– Electrical works
– Alter / Install walls, dropped ceilings and hang doors
– Plastering, woodwork and floor levelling
Visit our FB page on the link below to be inspired
https://www.facebook.com/hanningtons.kitchens.and.bathrooms/
Call us : 669 665 156
Email us: hanningtons.bathrooms@gmail.com ; Our contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue.
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MANDY’S PAINTBOX
Mandy’s Paintbox: Painter for 30 years in Nerja area.
Painting work undertaken. Inside and outside, large or small. Furniture painted or sprayed. Kitchens, cabinets, wardrobes doors any colour any surface. Check out the before and after photos, all the furniture was spray painted. Call for advice. WhatsApp 680739577
Email: josiahamanda@gmail.com
My contact details can be found in the Sponsor’s Section at the bottom of every issue. Here are “before” (left) and “after” (right) pics from my latest job.
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Buy / Sell / Trade / Rent / Wanted
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a
single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE
BluCee Real Estate have had a fantastic year so far:
50% of our buyers are Spanish which is inline with previous years. The other 50% are made up of buyers from The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, United Kingdom, Germany, America to name a few.
We have attended International property exhibitions in London, Toronto, Birmingham and Warsaw this year. In 2025 we are attending exhibitions in Manchester, Dubai, London, Birmingham, Dublin and The Netherlands.
If you want your property to have maximum exposure, contact us today!
At BluCee we go above and beyond for you during the sales process, don’t just take our word for it – see our reviews on Google and Facebook.
Pass by our office to have a no obligation chat!
Calle Timón 11b, Torre del Mar, 29740
We are open Monday to Friday 09.30 to 17.30 hrs.
For an appointment outside of our opening times or for one of us to view your property please contact us:
info@blucee.com or 0034 711 04 27 27
www.blucee.com
We cover the whole coast line and inland.
BluCee Real Estate are a DigameXtra sponsor so our contact details are shown here every day.
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For Sale, 3 items:
– Hydraulic Jack, 2 ton load, €20
– Height-Adjustable mobile hanging rail €10
– Royal Doulton “The Clown” 1988 Character Model €25
Contact Richard in Caleta de Vélez on mobile/whatsapp 617282970
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For Sale: Dog kennel, plastic, 82cm long x 64cm wide x 66cm high
Comes apart for storage and transportation. Carol, Nerja.
Email: carol ellul 18 at gmail dot com
10€ to be donated to APAA Nerja Dog rescue charity.
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For Sale: 4x super comfy rocking / swivel chairs, 50€ each.
Buyer collects. Contact Joanne in Caleta de Velez
Tel 655722962
Email: joanne dot andy dot yates@gmail.com
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For Sale: Pine wardrobe 183cm high x 86cm wide x 58cm deep. Excellent condition. 4 drawers and hanging rail. 30€.
Wes, Torrox. Phone or WhatsApp 658164021.
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For Sale, 3 items:
– Hand painted porcelain tea service 120 euros
– 5 boxed dehumidifiers 5 euros
– OBH Nordica juicer good condition. 30 euros
Terry, Nerja campo. Or could meet at Lidl supermarket. Telephone 694448597 also on whatsapp.
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FREE- Mosaic Tiles: Crates of tiles available for making mosaics.
(More than in the photo!) All sorts of colours. Free to the first person that wants them so don’t hesitate to call to reserve them.
You’ll need a van or trailer to pick them up.
Nick, La Herradura. +34 609 706 210
Email: keelsway at yahoo dot co dot uk
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Recommendations, Requests & Comments
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them.
Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
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Typewriter Ribbon: Does anyone know where I can buy a new ribbon for an old typewriter in this area. Thank you. Liz, Caleta 648917219
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Garage Sale: Cortijo Eco – on road between Canillas de Albaida and Archez. Friday 25th October 11am – 3pm
Jon, Archez, Tel or WhatsApp 634 321 967
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Wanted, dog sitter: We are looking for someone to look after our two 5 year old Biewer Terriers. Previously we had a very nice lady who cared for them but her circumstances changed and she can no longer have them. They are quiet and clean and quite independent because they have been together from birth.
The ideal person or would be someone who loves dogs, lives in a house with a secure garden or apartment, is located within reasonable distance of Torre Del Mar, who would treat them as their own for two or three short periods each year.
If you are interested please contact us to discuss further.
Email: colespania@gmail.dot.com ; 634687050 ; Colin, Torre Del Mar
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News & Articles
(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }
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SPAIN
The TSJM unanimously rejects Pedro Sánchez’s complaint against Judge Peinado for its “speculative nature”: {Translation, summary}
– The High Court of Justice (TSJ) of Madrid has unanimously rejected the 
complaint for prevarication filed by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez {pic}, against Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who is leading the investigation against his wife, Begoña Gómez, considering that it has a “speculative character”.
– “By way of conclusion, the Chamber cannot help but think, given the speculative nature on which the complaint is based and the prejudice that it distills, that this is only due to an attempt to distort the purpose of the law,” say the judges in an order, collected by Europa Press.
– In addition, they reproach the President of the Government for having used the State Attorney’s Office to take legal action against the head Judge of the Court of Instruction Number 41 of Madrid. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-tsjm-rechaza-unanimidad-querella-pedro-sanchez-contra-juez-peinado-prevaricacion-20241018133558.html
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One of the judges who overturned the complaint against Peinado sees in Sánchez “true bad faith”, recommends a fine against Sánchez for his “reckless” complaint: {Translation, summary}
– In the order in which the TSJM dismisses the complaint, it includes the individual opinion of Judge Jesús María Santos Vijande {pic} in which, after making clear his 
“total agreement” with the court’s decision, he adds devastating considerations about the President of the Government and his decision to go to court and points out that a separate investigation should have been opened to determine “whether the filing of the complaint involves abuse of rights or procedural bad faith”.
– The judge points out that the court should have opened a separate investigation to determine whether it was appropriate to “impose a fine on the plaintiff” for procedural bad faith, which, he recalls, can range between 180 and 6,000 euros.
– The magistrate regrets that he proposed it to the court “without success” and insists that in his opinion Article 247 of the Civil Procedure Act should have been applied against Sánchez, for failure to respect the rules of procedural good faith, “the order we have issued literally proclaims that the president’s complaint lacks any basis, is speculative, responds to prejudices and has a spurious purpose, while citing case law of the Second Chamber reproaching the reckless and abusive exercise of the criminal action”. Source, Spanish: https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/2024-10-18/uno-de-los-jueces-que-han-tumbado-la-querella-contra-peinado-ve-en-sanchez-verdadera-mala-fe-7175770/
ANDALUCÍA
These are the almost thirty species that are in danger of extinction in Andalusia: {Translation}
– The Andalusian List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime (LAESPE), which includes the Andalusian Catalogue of Threatened Species, includes almost thirty species in danger of extinction. Specifically, the figure stands at 28 in a historic year in which one of them, the Iberian lynx, has been removed from this category and has become vulnerable.
– Most of the species considered endangered in Andalusia are birds. Fifteen of the species in this situation belong to this class.
– Of these, seven are wetland birds and are included in the recovery and conservation plan for them: the crab egret (Ardeola ralloides); the bittern (Botaurus stellaris); the brown pochard (Aythya nyroca); the marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris); the white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala); the horned coot (Fulica cristata); and the common tern (Chlidonias niger).
– Three others are part of the plan for necrophagous birds. In this case, the endangered species are the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), the red kite (Milvus milvus) and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).
– Two other endangered species are part of the plan for steppe birds, such as the black-eared owl (Turnix sylvatica) and the great bustard (Otis tarda), while there is a specific plan for the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). In the case of the remaining two migratory birds present in Andalusia, there is no specific plan: the black stork (Ciconia nigra) and the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus).
– The recovery and conservation plan for epicontinental fish and invertebrates includes another eight species in Andalusia. Five of them are fish: the sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), the jarabugo (Anaecypris hispanica), the bogardilla (Squalius palaciosi), the Atlantic salinete or fartet (Aphanius baeticus) and the fartet (Aphanius iberus). The other two are river-dwelling species, one of which is a fish, the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus); another is an insect, the dragonfly (Macromia splendens); and the third is a crustacean, the European or white-legged crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).
– The protection and conservation plan for high peaks is the one to which the two butterfly species threatened with extinction, the wolf’s harbor butterfly (Agryades zullichi) and the Sierra Nevada girl (Polyommatus golgus), are subject.
– Finally, the three remaining species are not included in a multi-species plan, which does not mean that they are not protected: the ferruginea limpet (Patella ferruginea), a gastropod mollusk; the black-eared slider turtle (Testudo graeca) {pic}, the only reptile on the list; and the only mammal in the same situation, the bigeye bat (Myotis capaccinii).
– To these are added another 54 species that are considered vulnerable in Andalusia, including the Iberian lynx, which at the end of June ceased to be classified as an endangered species.
– In addition, there are 357 others that, although not included in any of the above categories, are subject to a Special Protection Regime and are part of the list.
*Plants*
– In addition to fauna, the LAESPE also includes Andalusian flora. Although in the case of plants the list is less extensive, consisting of 295 species, it does include a greater variety of endangered species. A total of 68 species are threatened at this level.
– There are even five species considered extinct. Two of them belong to the recovery plan in high peaks, which are Tanacetum funkii and Viola biflora, both flowering species. To these are added the multicolored subspecies of Elizaldia calycina, Galium tunetanum and the canary fern (Dryopteris guanchica). Another 117 are considered vulnerable in terms of conservation. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1788420/estas-son-las-casi-treinta-especies-que-estan-en-peligro-de-extincion-en-andalucia/
AXARQUÍA
Axarquía desalination plant is still just a pipe dream, minimum 4 years to completion, location not even confirmed yet: {Translation, summary}
– The tedious procedures for the necessary desalination plant in Axarquía, which must be undertaken and planned by the central government through the state company Acuamed, continue to make progress, at the moment more due to the push of end users than due to governmental speed.
– In short, a critical plant for an area with a deficit in terms of water contributions such as Axarquía is beginning to travel a long path that will depend on the speed of investment processing by the Government.
– The plant will be located on land determined by the Junta de Andalucía and the Vélez City Council in the surroundings of the current wastewater treatment plant and the El Ingenio shopping center, about 2 kilometers from the coast and on the river bank. The ownership belongs to half a dozen owners, so expropriations must be carried out. Sources consulted by SUR assure that the Government still has certain doubts about this location due to issues related to coastal dynamics.
– From the meetings held between the Ministry of Agriculture and Sustainability, and the Secretary of State for the Environment, the most optimistic deadline that emerges is the year 2028 for the commissioning of this infrastructure. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/desaladora-axarquia-repartira-partes-iguales-campo-suministro-20241018112443-nt.html
MALAGA PROVINCE
Status of the Malaga reservoirs on Sunday, October 20, 2024:
NERJA
New Municipal Citizen Service Office Of Maro Opens For Business This Tuesday: {Translation, summary}
– This Tuesday, October 22, will start operating the new Municipal Office of Citizen Services Maro, which will be located in the Municipal Multipurpose Center.
– It will provide service on Tuesdays and Thursdays from five to eight in the afternoon. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/este-martes-entra-en-funcionamiento-la-nueva-oficina-municipal-de-atencion-al-ciudadano-de-maro/
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They denounce “the state of abandonment” of a pool from the Roman era in Maro: {Translation, summary}
– It is at the Roman site of Lugarejo, located in the district of Maro.
– Local lawyer and researcher Pablo Rojo has denounced the “deplorable state” in which this historic enclave is located, constitutes “the oldest man-made structure in the municipality of Nerja.” According to Rojo, this type of basin, which could date back to between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, served to contain the famous ‘garum’, the sauce made from fish viscera that was so appreciated by the Romans. According to the local researcher, “for some time now, several cultural associations and local history experts have been denouncing the state of total abandonment of this important archaeological vestige of Maro.”
– Councilor for Culture, Ana María Muñoz (PP), has replied that they are aware of Pablo Rojo’s complaint and that they are already “in talks with the owner of the land, Larios” to give her a solution “as soon as possible.” The Nerjeña councilor has highlighted that Nerja City Council is finalizing an archaeological document with this and other important sites that are located in the easternmost coastal municipality of the province, in order to elevate it to higher levels so that the remains are protected and conserved properly. Source, Spanish: https://www.diariosur.es/axarquia/denuncian-estado-abandono-yacimiento-epoca-romana-maro-20240913234531-nt.html
EUROPE
Two days of torrential rain bring major flooding to central France, transport disrupted:
– France’s prime minister said Friday that firefighters and other rescuers have been involved in about 2,300 operations, some of them lifesaving, in what appears to be the biggest flooding in 40 years in central France. Michel Barnier visited French authorities’ crisis center in Paris and said there hadn’t been such violent rain in many people’s memory. Over 1,000 people were evacuated. Most of them were able to go back home on Friday.
– French weather agency Meteo France said as much as 700 millimeters (27.5 inches) of rain fell in in 48 hours in some local areas in the regions of Ardeche and Lozere.
– National railway operator SNCF halted regional trains between the cities of Lyon and Saint-Étienne on Thursday saying the tracks were impassable. Local train services will remain disrupted for several days, it said. A main highway between the two cities also was inundated and remained closed on Friday.
– Meteo France lifted its red alert for bad weather on Friday morning but still warned of potential heavy rain and floods in southwestern France. Full article: https://apnews.com/article/france-floods-651a7abc74b7267988133dc20ae54493
GASTRONOMIA
Tripping the light autochthonous (ô-tŏk′thə-nəs, indigenous, native):
The Chorreao olive from Montefrío; the Vigiriego grape from the Lecrín Valley. Photo credit: Padraig O Niaidh. Source
HEALTH
Why is it so difficult to get proper pain relief treatment in emergency departments, despite it being the most common reason for visits? Incompetency is not a valid excuse!: {Translation}
– Consultations for pain are frequent in emergency services in Spain. In fact, studies show that it is the most common reason for consultation in these services. “For example, it has been reported that up to 78% of patients who go to the emergency room do so because of pain.”
– Now, it has finally been admitted by health officials that there is a clear problem in the treatment of pain in Emergency Departments and it must be resolved, based on several reasons that we will point out later.
– For this purpose, Europa Press Infosalus interviewed Dr. Cesáreo Álvarez Rodríguez, head of the Emergency Unit of the Hospital de Verín (Ourense), and Dr. José Ramón Casal Codesido, head of the Emergency Department of the Hospital El Bierzo (León), and coordinator of the Pain Group of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), who pointed out that the pathologies related to pain for which most people visit Emergency Departments in Spain include:
*Abdominal pain
*Chest pain
*Low back pain
*Pain of tumor origin
*Pain due to traumatic injuries
PROBLEMS WITH THE TREATMENT OF PAIN IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
– These SEMES members highlight the fact that, at present, there are several problems in the treatment of pain in emergency departments in Spain, which affect both the quality of care and patient satisfaction, among which the following stand out:
– Lack of uniform protocols: There is no unified and standardized protocol for the management of acute pain in all hospitals; which leads to significant variations in the quality of care, and in the treatments administered.
– Inadequate training: Specific training in acute pain management for healthcare personnel is limited; more training is needed for professionals to adequately manage different types of pain.
– Inadequate pain assessment: Pain assessment is often not done systematically or with appropriate tools, which can lead to undertreatment or inappropriate treatment.
– Challenges in pain management in children: Pain management in pediatric patients presents additional challenges due to differences in pain perception and symptom communication.
– Problems in follow-up: Lack of adequate follow-up of patients after receiving pain treatment in the ED, which can lead to readmissions and the pain becoming a chronic problem.
– Limited access to specialized treatment: Not all hospitals have access to specialized pain units, limiting the treatment options available to patients with chronic or complex pain.
HOW WE MIGHT FIX IT
– Among the possible solutions to reverse these problems with pain treatment from the ED, these SEMES experts point to:
1. specialized pain units: they can offer advanced and personalized treatments that are not available in general EDs.
2. Standardized Protocols: They should include clear guidelines on initial treatment, follow-up and referral to pain specialists when necessary.
3. Post-ED follow-up: Implement follow-up programs for patients visiting the ED for pain, including follow-up phone calls, follow-up appointments and referrals to pain clinics to ensure that pain is managed continuously and effectively outside the ED setting.
4. Education and training of ED staff on best practices for pain management, including the use of pain scales, appropriate assessment techniques, and treatment options; ongoing education can improve the quality of care as well as reduce repeat visits.
5. Multidisciplinary interventions: Encourage a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, involving physicians, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, and other health care professionals; can address the physical, emotional, and social aspects of pain.
6. Patient education programs: Develop patient education programs that teach patients about pain management, self-care techniques, the importance of treatment adherence, and when to seek ER care; education can empower patients to better manage their pain at home, and avoid unnecessary ER visits.
WHY IS PAIN NOT GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE IT DESERVES?
– As stated by Cesáreo Álvarez Rodríguez, head of the Emergency Unit of the Hospital de Verín (Ourense), and José Ramón Casal Codesido, head of the Emergency Department of the Hospital El Bierzo, the lack of importance given to pain and its treatment in the Emergency Department, and in medical care in general, may be due to several factors:
1. Underestimation of pain: pain is often underestimated, being considered a normal part of many diseases and treatments, which can lead to a lack of adequate attention and prioritization in its management.
2. Lack of training: Training in pain management, both acute and chronic, is insufficient in many medical education programs; this results in health care professionals who are not fully equipped to address pain effectively.
3. Variability in assessment: Lack of standardized tools and variability in pain assessment can lead to inconsistent and often inadequate treatments.
4. Prejudice and stigma: Prejudice exists around patients who report pain, especially in cases of chronic pain or in vulnerable populations; this can lead to minimization of their symptoms and undertreatment.
5. Limited resources: Emergency departments and other clinical settings are often under pressure due to limited resources and high demands, which can make pain management not an immediate priority.
6. Focus on acute diagnoses: In the ED, the priority is often to identify and treat life-threatening conditions; pain, although significant, may be considered a secondary concern in the face of these emergencies.
7. Cultural perception: In some cultures and contexts, pain is not recognized as a priority medical problem, and patients are expected to endure it without seeking medical help.
8. Complications in chronic pain management: Chronic pain is complex and multifactorial, and its management requires a multidisciplinary approach that is often not available in many health systems.
Source, Spanish:
https://www.infosalus.com/salud-investigacion/noticia-hay-problemas-tratamiento-dolor-servicios-urgencias-pesar-ser-causa-mas-comun-20241018083748.html & X Post Link
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Advances in radiotherapy allow breast cancer to be treated in 5 sessions instead of 25, and with added safety: {Translation, summary}
– Regarding radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, we are experiencing a paradigm shift. Until recently, treatments were carried out in 25 sessions with older techniques that caused acute and chronic toxicity that was limiting for the patients, and today, thanks to technological advances and research in radiotherapy, we can carry out most treatments in just five sessions with more advanced application techniques that reduce complications.
– In addition, thanks to the advances incorporated in centers such as Hospital Quirónsalud Málaga, “we can perform the treatment with the technique called Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) or Deep inspiration breath hold, this technique seeks to protect the heart during the treatment. The patient takes a deep breath in and holds the air in the lungs for a few seconds. During this process, sensors placed on the surface of the body detect the exact moment when the patient has reached deep inspiration. Only then does the radiation therapy machine deliver the radiation dose, looking for the moment when the heart has moved away from the area to be treated. This ensures that the radiation is concentrated on the area to be irradiated and does not affect nearby healthy organs. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/1788245/avances-en-radioterapia-permiten-tratar-el-cancer-de-mama-en-5-sesiones-en-lugar-de-en-25/
SPORTS
Tennis News- Jannik Sinner Takes Home $6 Million With Win Over Carlos Alcaraz In 6 Kings Slam Tournament:
– World No. 1 Jannik Sinner backed up his ranking and will take home the biggest purse in sports history after winning the 6 Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 to capture $6 million prize.
– In the third-place match, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6(5) in the final match of their storied rivalry. Nadal is set to retire at next month’s Davis Cup finals in Spain.
– All six players in the event were guaranteed a prize money of $1.5 million for appearing.
– Although none of the matches count on the ATP Tour, Sinner’s win snapped a three-match winning streak for Alcaraz. The Spaniard had beaten Sinner in the recent Beijing final and earlier this year in the French Open semifinals. Full article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2024/10/19/jannik-sinner-takes-home-6-million-with-win-over-carlos-alcaraz–in-6-kings-slam/
TRAVEL
Irish company Aer Lingus connects Sevilla with Dublin from this Friday, Ryanair currently running routes from Sevilla to Dublin and Cork : {Translation, summary}
– The airline Aer Lingus will connect Sevilla with Dublin (Ireland) starting this Friday, October 25, and will do so three times a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
– The flights from the Andalucian capital, which will be operated with an Airbus A-320, are scheduled at 12:35 p.m. on Fridays and at 6:45 p.m. on both Wednesdays and Sundays, with a total duration of three hours, as announced the private Irish flag company based in Dublin.
– However, it is not the only company that establishes air connections between Seville and the Republic of Ireland, since Ryanair currently maintains two routes: Dublin and Cork. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/sevilla-00357/noticia-compania-irlandesa-aer-lingus-conecta-sevilla-dublin-viernes-20241019122955.html
FINANCIAL
All Workers Must File- previously exempt low income people to be taxed & the long-term unemployed to pay tax on benefits- Tax Law change leads to a significant increase in personal income tax for low incomes: {Translation, summary}
– Controversy surrounds the latest IRPF reform made by the Ministries of Finance and Labor in Social Security regulations, which consists of including a new obligation for workers, applicants and beneficiaries of unemployment benefits: to file an income tax return.
– This new obligation implies an increase in this tax for low incomes, the most numerous group of nearly 12 million taxpayers, and which will affect a good number of them, depending on their family and employment situation, as from November 1st. First of all, it is an increase in Personal Income Tax for the unemployed, since many of them will have to pay Personal Income Tax due to the new obligation to file an Income Tax Return. And the fact is that, contrary to what the Ministry of Labor has maintained, by now including in the scheme taxpayers who did not have to file a tax return before, many of them will now have to pay income tax.
– But the reform may not stop here, since the meaning of what has been published in the BOE is that the obligation to declare is also extended to all workers, which implies the end of the exemption limits of 22,000 euros when the taxpayer receives all the income from a single payer and 15,876 when he receives his income from several payers (provided that the second highest exceeds 1,500). This would mean that many more taxpayers would be affected by an increase in Personal Income Tax- up to 111 euros for the group of lowest incomes. Source, Spanish: https://www.vozpopuli.com/economia/error-hacienda-trabajo-conduce-subida-masiva-irpf-rentas-bajas.html
OTHER
Cuba still without power as Hurricane Oscar approaches:
– Much of Cuba is without power on Sunday as Hurricane Oscar approaches, two days after the country’s main energy plant failed and knocked out power to 10 million people. Electricity supply was partially restored on Saturday, before collapsing again overnight.
– President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that authorities in the east of the island were “working hard to protect the people and economic resources, given the imminent arrival of Hurricane Oscar”.
– Packing 85mph (140km/h) winds, Oscar is forecast to reach Cuba on Sunday afternoon local time, and could cause flash-flooding and mudslides in eastern areas, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
– For many people it has been a few days with no air conditioning or fan. Food is now beginning to rot in fridges, and some families are having to cook with firewood. Many homes are without water as the supply depends on electric pumps. Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8elzx8dg7zo
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Cinesur El Ingenio Films schedule: You can find the film schedule at this link. Films tagged as (VOSE) are in the original language with Spanish subtitles.
https://www.cinesur.com/es/cine/mk2-cinesur-el-ingenio
Useful Links, Info & Numbers
2024 Holiday Calendars by town, click/tap to view:
Algarrobo
Competa
Malaga
Nerja
Rincon
Torrox
Velez-Málaga
For other towns in Malaga Province, visit this website, click your town, then look for the post named “Calendario Laboral de ‘Your Town‘ 2024 “, click that to see calendar.
https://www.foro-ciudad.com/malaga.html
Petrol Prices – Updated daily: These are the fuel stations in Malaga province with the lowest prices. The price data for 95 and 98-octane petrol and diesel fuel is updated every day. See it here:
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/updated-daily-these-20220314114157-nt.html
Weekly Markets
Monday: Torrox Costa
Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena
Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa
Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana
Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria.
Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa
Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231
Phone numbers for emergencies
Emergency Services.: 112
National Police: 091
Guardia Civil: 062
Ambulance: 061
Fire Station (Bomberos): 080
Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police
Torrox: 952 539 828
Nerja: 952 521 545
Frigiliana: 952 533 126
Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Local/National News in English, The Sur: http://www.surinenglish.com/
Local Weather: https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/torre-del-mar/306652/weather-forecast/306652
Bus Info: https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/our-destinations/regional
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Local Bank Holidays: http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/spain/index.php UK Newspaper Front Pages and Worldwide Newspapers All On One Site: https://www.thepaperboy.com/uk/front-pages.cfm
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Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
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