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.

SUBMISSIONS INFO & RULES PAGE LINK

*Subscribe to receive free daily issues by email and gain submission posting privileges. To subscribe, please send me an email with the message “subscribe me to DigameXtra” from the email account you want subscribed. 

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*Send your submissions & subscription requests to digamextra@protonmail.com

Note: The submission deadline is 6pm for the next day’s issue.

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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor

Home Page  and  FB Page

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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DigameXtra will be closed Monday, Jan. 6, Epiphany.

Epiphany Day, a national holiday. Posts scheduled for Jan 6th will appear in the Jan 7th issue.  

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

 I can only produce DigameXtra with the financial support of my readers. Once a year, during the year end holidays, I do a fundraiser to help pay production expenses throughout the whole year. This year’s goal is to receive a donation from 4% of subscribers. The 4% Club finances DigameXtra for the 96% group that don’t donate. Which group will you belong to? The generosity of the 4% Club members is greatly appreciated. 

Just like your morning coffee,
what would you do
without your morning DigameXtra?

– Holiday Donation Info, 2 Methods –
#1. You may drop cash donations off in person and say hello, by appointment, or place them in my mailbox beside my door anytime. Please be sure to include your name on the envelope- there are benefits to being on the DigameXtra Donor’s lists, such as not needing to open an issue every 2 weeks to maintain your posting privileges, but only if you donate at least €30. Due to health reasons, unannounced drop-ins are inconvenient for me. But if I am expecting you, no problem! My mailbox has the name HARRIS on it. Email me for map and directions. Cash donations are strongly preferred. 
#2. Alternatively, you may send me an Amazon ES (Spain) “eGift card” by email. You need to have an Amazon.es account. The only info you need is my email address and your name (the sender’s name). Remember, this is an “eGift card” you buy that Amazon emails directly to me, don’t buy a plain “gift card”. Use the link provided below to access the “eGift card” purchase page. 
PLEASE DO NOT SEND AMAZON UK eGIFT CARDS. NO BANK TRANSFERS OR PAYMENT APPS.
Here is the Amazon.es eGift Card Link, (NOTE: YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY AMOUNT YOU LIKE ON THE FORM, it is set at €50 by default):
https://www.amazon.es/Cheques-Regalo-Amazon-es-mail-Amazon/dp/B07SS5PFJK/
On the eGift card purchase form, enter the DigameXtra email as the recipient, as shown below in Spanish and with English translation.
Para/For : digamextra@protonmail.com

For those readers who cannot afford to make a holiday fundraiser donation: Referring friends to subscribe to DigameXtra is a good way for you to contribute to this project with no expense. Thank you.

Total Donations Received As Of Today: 100 (2%)

4% target = 200 donations

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FUNFRAISER UPDATE- Fri, 3 Jan:

SAVE DIGAMEXTRA FROM THE GRINCH!!! So far, only 100 of the 4946 subscribers (2%) have donated to the 2024 Holiday Fundraiser. Since it is very unlikely I will receive 100 more donations over the weekend to achieve the 4% goal by 7 Jan., this fundraiser will continue until the goal is achieved. Last year’s fundraiser did manage to attain its goal, but not until 3 weeks after it officially ended, as readers away for the holidays returned.

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What’s On

Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra! 

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41 CLUB NERJA

41 Club Nerja Going From Strength to Strength:
– 41 Club Nerja is delighted to report that we really are going from strength to strength, our membership continues to grow and our doors are open for more new members to join our vibrant Club.
– Do you remember in your local communities all the events that the Round Table and 41 Club organised? Yes! that’s us!
– Do you love getting out and about in our beautiful Axarquia area and also like the idea of being with people who enjoy life and help the local community too? Well, that’s also us! So please come along, meet us, see how we do things, and you don’t even need to have been a member previously.
– We enjoy a wide variety of exciting activities, interesting meetings and tasty meals in many of the lovely restaurants we have in our local area. Our get togethers are attended by our members (who hail from nine different countries) as well as our partners, guests, friends and family too. We’re a very friendly bunch.
To get in touch you can
Email us: steve.ryan.sr56@gmail.com
Phone Steve on 0044 7546 402770
You can connect with 41 Club Nerja via Facebook.
Or visit our website to find out more at: https://41clubnerja.org/ 
We’d love to hear from you and we’d also love for you to come along and join in the fun!

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Three Kings Parade & Royal Postman Info- Nerja:
– Friday, January 3, at 5pm, The Royal Postman will make his long-awaited tour of Nerja with a parade full of color and music. Children will be able to deliver their letters in the Plaza de España.
– Sunday, January 5, Three Wise Men begin the procession at 5:00 p.m. from the Balcony of Europe. The Cavalcade of the Three Kings will tour the Balcony of Europe, Cavana Square, Granada Street, Plaza de la Ermita, San Miguel Street, Plaza Cantarero, Pintada Street, Puerta del Mar Street and again the Balcony of Europe. After the tour, the singer Antonio Cortes Nerjeño delight those present with his voice in the emotional adoration of the Child Jesus, which will take place in front of the facade of the church of El Salvador.

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Three Kings Parade- Rincón de la Victoria: Sunday, 5 Jan
– 11.00 H. Reception Of The Wise Men From The East Municipal Auditorium. Parade Of The Three Kings With Live Nativity Scene And Musical Performance. Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana.
– 16.00 H. Parade of The Wise Men Of The East.
Departure From Los Rubios, five low-emission floats, parade and entertainment which will feature the participation of the Music Band, parades, the Explorers Club, Gym Victory, Shabanna Bellydance and the Helarte association, among others.
– 19.00 H. Parade of The Magi Through The Streets Of Benagalbón. Info: https://www.turismoenrincon.es/navidad/

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Johann Strauss- Grand New Year’s Concert in Malaga:
Strauss Festival Orchestra & Ballet Ensemble
Wed, 8 Jan, 2025, 8:30 p.m.
FYCMA – Malaga Fair and Congress Palace
If you are one of the classical music lovers, the most famous titles of the waltz king, Napoleon, Feast of Flowers, The Emperor’s Waltz or Champagne, will be familiar to you. The most famous waltz of all, The Beautiful Blue Danube and the Radetzky March complete this extraordinary concert that has thrilled more than 5 million spectators around the world.
Info, map & tix (€42-48): https://www.elcorteingles.es/entradas/conciertos/entradas-johann-strauss-gran-concierto-de-ano-nuevo-malaga & Video Link

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January Candlelight Concerts in Malaga City:
– For these coming Fridays, 10 and 17, and Saturdays, 11 and 18 January there are scheduled concerts at the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga with The Bridgertons series, which will be performed by the string quartet Résonance. The cheapest tickets are sold out and now start from 40.50 euros, and there are only seats for 22:15 hours.
– This coming Saturday January 11 at the Sala Fundación Unicaja María Cristina, a special session of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky to be performed by the string quartet Spinto and dancer Ana Malía. The program will feature iconic songs accompanied by ballet. The cheapest tickets start at 18.50 euros, and there are times at 17:45 and 19:45 hours.
-Special Candlelight Concert- Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons: To will be held at the Salón Real of the Gran Hotel Miramar on Sunday, January 12. The string quartet Ensemble Résonance will play some Coldplay classics such as Clocks, Something Just Like This or Adventure of a Lifetime, as well as Radioactive or Natural by Imagine Dragons. There will be a session at 19:00, already sold out, and another at 21:00 hours, tickets start from 37 euros.
– On Sunday, January 19 and 26, the Royal Hall of the Gran Hotel Miramar will host a tribute to ABBA at 21:00. The string quartet Résonance will perform some of their classics. Tickets available from 20 euros.
– Friday, January 24, the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga will be the stage for a tribute to Hans Zimmer, performed by the string quartet Ensemble Résonance. Tickets for the 8:30 pm session are sold out, for 10:15 pm they start at 41 euros. The program will include such famous soundtracks as Gladiator, Dune, The Lion King, The Pacific and Interstellar, among others.
– Saturday, January 25, a tribute to Queen and The Beatles at the Salón Real of the Gran Hotel Miramar. Two sessions, 19:00 and 21:00, starting from 20 euros. The string quartet Melissando will also perform songs like Here Comes the Sun, Help! or Yesterday, by The Beatles; and others from Love of My Life, We Are the Champions and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
– Saturday, January 25, the stage will be illuminated with only candles at the Sala Unicaja de Conciertos María Cristina. For this occasion will be the pianist Natalia Kuchaeva who will perform some of the great songs of Queen, classics of the band as Somebody To Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, I Want To Break Free, We Are The Champions or Under Pressure. Tickets for the 7:45 pm show are available from 30.50 euros.
– Saturday January 25 there will also be a tribute to Coldplay at the Sala Fundación Unicaja Mª Cristina by pianist Natalia Kuchaeva. Tracks such as Clocks, Shiver, Speed of Sound, Paradise or Yellow, among others, will be among the repertoire. The cheapest tickets, from 28.50 euros, show at 17:45 hours.
– Sunday, January 26, a special Candlelight Concert: Magical Soundtracks at the Royal Hall of the Gran Hotel Miramar. Tickets for the 19:00 and 21:00 sessions start at 20 euros. The string quartet Ensemble Résonance will also perform soundtracks from films such as UP, Toy Story, Mulan, Mary Poppins and The Lion King.
– Friday, January 31, the Royal Hall of the Gran Hotel Miramar will host a tribute concert to composer Ennio Morricone performed by the string quartet Ensemble Résonance, starting at 7:00 pm and with tickets from 37 euros.
– Friday, January 31 there will be a special to Coldplay and Ed Sheeran at the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga. With sessions at 20:30 and 22:15 hours, tickets start from 26.50 euros. The string quartet Origen will be in charge of performing some of Coldplay’s classics such as Clocks, Viva la vida or Sky Full of Stars; and Ed Sheeran’s, such as Bad habits, Photograph, or Give me love.
Ref: https://www.malagahoy.es/la-farola/queen-coldplay-bridgerton-entradas-candlelight-malaga-enero_0_2003068250.html 

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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/

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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CÓMPETA SOLAR

Cómpeta Solar:
-Solar Electric (PV) (Self-Consumption)
-Grid Connected or Off Grid Solar Electric
-Solar Hot Water
-Solar Pool Heating
-Heat Pumps
-Installation and Repairs
Contact: James Bain, Competa
Tel: +34 652970608 (Spain)
Email: info AT competasolar DOT es
Web: www.competasolar.es
We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section.

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TONY ROAM TRANSPORT & REMOVALS

Tony Roam Transport & Removals Spain To UK To Spain:
Fortnightly Runs Spain to UK and Up to 4 weeks free Storage. Spain or UK.
18 years Removals To & Fro Spain / UK Spain.
Man & Van, Local & Long Distance Removals
No subcontracting, all collection and delivery in house.
Transportation, Removals & light haulage company that have scheduled trips all year from UK to Torrox and back every month.
Also additional unscheduled to suit your needs.
Full or part loads undertaken.
Dedicated Delivery Personal Service Full or Part loads up to 60 cubic meters up to 5.5 tonne.
Up to £25,000.00 insurance with British Insurance Company.
Evidence of insurance can be supplied by email on request.
Hard Copies always carried on the vans.
This and a current Operators licence are a legal requirement.
Our International Operators Licence No UKGB / OG2043664
We live just behind Torrox Pueblo in Spain and in South Wales UK and have vans going back and forth UK to Spain to UK by way of Santander or Bilbao / Portsmouth or Plymouth Ferry.
For more information and prices for all to see please visit our website http://www.tonyroamremovals.com
email ; tonyroam@btconnect.com
Spain 0034636393542 – UK 00447973362003.
Face book Tony Roam – WhatsApp Either Number
Our contact details are shown every day in the Sponsor’s Section.

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GREEK CASITA RESTAURANT & BAR

Reopened 1/1/25. The Greek House – Greek Casita Restaurant & Bar – Torrox Costa:
Located on the sea promenade, between the Safari bar and Picadero restaurants, BLQ 80 bajo. We offer you a little piece of Greece with our Greek home made specialities. You can choose meat specialties (Gyros, Souvlaki, Bifteki, Sutsukaki, Mussaka), cheese (Feta Psiti, Feta Saganaki, Hallumi), vegetables (Greek salad, Hummus, Eggplant cream, Mezze, Tzatziki) or sea fruits (prawns or octopus), all of this accompanied with our special Greek pita bread. For dessert… HOMEMADE BAKLAVA! We offer a lovely meal time in a quiet and exquisite atmosphere, accompanied with the best Greek music. See you soon! Hours: 7pm to close, Wednesday thru Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday. For reservations call 642585049. https://la-casita-griega.business.site/ We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section. 

 

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ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES & JUBILEE HOUSE

ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES IN THE AXARQUIA REGION:
Do you have health or mobility issues?
Would support enable you to remain independent in your own home?
Liz Brown, probably the only nurse registered to practice in Andalucia to hold the ENB 941 (Specialist qualification in care of the older person), together with her fully insured and police checked home care support team offers one-on-one support and companionship in the comfort of your own home. COE Malaga reg. 17425
HOME CARE/NURSE SUPPORT
Palliative care / Companionship / Health monitoring English Nurse / Hospital sitting / Respite at home / 24 hr live in care / Housekeeping / Correspondence & Communication / Medication collection & dispensing systems / Dressing, bathing & daily hygiene / Shopping & meal preparation / Fast response Falls Team / Provision of medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hoists
englishnurse@rocketmail.com
Tel: 951550581 or 692419548
JUBILEE HOUSE – Close Care Unit in Torrox
VACANCY: Due to a successful rehabilitation we will have vacancy from 21st November in one of our ensuite units for a long stay English speaking guest. Please contact Liz on 692419548.
5 ground floor individual units all en-suite
24-hour care at all stages from the English Nurse Care Team
Main language- English / Extensive sea views / Wheelchair accessible / Garden / Home cooking / Wifi / Air conditioning / Visiting physiotherapist, hairdresser, chiropodist and nutritionist
And we welcome guests for the day. We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section. 

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BLUCEE REAL ESTATE

The BluCee Real Estate team would like to wish all DigameXtra readers a Happy New Year! Thank you for the support you have shown us throughout 2024, it is appreciated:
Our office opening times over the festive season are shown in the photo below.
If you are thinking of selling your property please contact us.
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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DOCTORLAPTOP’S COMPUTER REPAIRS

DoctorLaptop’s Computer Repairs & Sales- Torrox Costa (near the bus station): Computers only, Windows / Linux / Mac. No tablets or phones. 
 I don’t work on dinosaurs computers made before 2017 unless I have been servicing then annually. 
Contact: doctorlaptop AT protonmail DOT com
Or call 675 993 069 (no calls before 12noon, missed calls returned asap). More info on my website. All work by appointment only, no drop-ins please. Appointments are only available 2pm-8pm, Sunday thru Thursday. Closed Fridays & Saturdays. Always include the make & model number of the device when requesting assistance. My contact details can be found everyday at the bottom of the Sponsor’s Section.

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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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COMPARE FUNERALS SPAIN

 

Compare Funerals cover the whole of Spain
ruthforder@comparefuneral.org
* Direct Cremation €2,250
* Collection of deceased and conveyance to Funeral Home
* Supply of coffin
* Preparation and care of deceased
* Registration of death and certification of all legal documentation
* Cremation and any doctor’s fees
* Supply of Urn
* Delivery of Urn and associated paperwork to family (death certificate, cremation certificate etc)
This plan is exclusive to a number of provinces, please ask advisor for more information.
Contact Ruth Forder on 0034 693 715 718 ; funeralplansbyruthforder.com
Your questions answered by Ruth from Compare Funerals Spain
– Why should I have a funeral plan? Having been funeral planning for over 10 year I’ve experienced some very sad and upset families when nothing is in place. A Spanish funeral plans will ensure that all costs are covered for your funeral service. Getting a prepaid plan will help you feel assured that your family will not be under any financial strain when it comes to paying for your funeral. A plan also means you can have peace of mind that everything has been organised in advance, so your loved ones do not have to make any difficult decisions.
– Why choose Compare Funerals? There seems to be a gap in Spain between independent funeral directors, offering plans at a good price but lacking the security of an established Trust or ability to cover a client overseas and Providers who seem to charge more than necessary. We want to be right in the middle and offer the best of both worlds. Our best-priced plan is only 2,250€ and does the essentials.
– Can I do a payment plan? All our plans are payable in full or over up to 5 years interest FREE. The interest free periods are based on initial deposit. The higher the deposit the less your monthly repayments will be.
– Can I transfer the plan? The answer is YES. You could name 2 people on one plan however if you had a friend/family member pass away we can transfer the plan into a 3rd party’s name.
– What happens if I move? All our plans offer the equivalent service in Spain (including the islands), Portugal, Republic of Ireland and the UK. If you moved to the UK, we would transfer the plan to one of our many partners at no extra cost to you.
– Is paperwork included? Yes, your family will receive a death certificate in Spanish and an international certification in English. We also provide a cremation certificate that allows the ashes on board a plane.
We are DigameXtra sponsors, so our contact info can be found everyday in the Sponsor’s Section. 

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For Sale: Brand new and sealed vinyl records.
– €20 each
Adele. 30 / Moby Reprise remixes / U2 .Songs of Surrender /
First aid kit. Palomino / Cypress Hill. Black Sunday 2023 remixes /
Simply Red. Time / Bob Marley. Africa Unite.
– €22. Prince. Welcome to America
I also buy vinyl records. Contact details below.
Pick up in Frigiliana or Nerja.
Mark, Frigiliana. Tel. 637580051 WhatsApp 00447582902899
email: stokehaggis66@hotmail.com 

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For Sale: Ikea Hemnes day bed
3 draws. 80cm x 200cm. 2 mattresses. Single bed, double bed and pull out storage all in one. V good condition. Buyer collects.
Please email: kingswoodjane@hotmail.co.uk
or call Jane, Torrox campo on 00 44 7958 789170 for more pictures and information. Ikea retails at 510 euros. Accept 100 euros. 

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For Sale, 3 items:
– IKEA Dydrik – versatile storage on castor wheels to offer flexible use of undercounter space in your study, or wherever! 32x32x60cms – 10€
– Mercusys Mesh wifi extension – this is a four-box extension system to deliver seamless wifi throughout the house regardless of all that concrete! Check it out on Amazon. This is a UK system with plug adaptors. – 20€
– Beautiful indoor/outdoor table and chairs – This a beautiful heavy duty wrought iron table and chair set with a 122cms diameter bevelled glass table-top. There are four extremely sturdy chairs. Designed for indoor or outdoor use, this is heavy durable furniture able to withstand the extremes of Spanish sun and rain! – 250€
Contact Richard in Calleta de Velez on mobile /Whatsapp 617282970

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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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Tailor Wanted: I’m looking for a tailor or seamstress. If anyone can recommend a local person, ideally English speaking, I would very much appreciate it. I’m in La Herradura but could get to Nerja of course if necessary. Unfortunately I left my sewing machine back in the U.S. I’m designing some clothes so I need simple seams to be done with a sewing machine.
Michelle, La Herradura
I can be reached at michellerabin at gmail dot com or whatsapp +34 711012826. Thank you. 

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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 new housing rental index is released- contracts that are updated in January will increase by 2.2%:
– Housing Ministry creates a calculator to find out how much your rent can be raised according to your contract. You will find the tool here, in Spanish, but very simple to use.
https://www.mivau.gob.es/vivienda/calculadora-precio-alquiler

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The year starts with an absolute record in the hourly price of the regulated electricity rate: {Translation, summary}
– 2025 has started with an absolute record in the hourly price of the voluntary price for small consumers (PVPC), the regulated electricity tariff. For 2 hours, one hour at 9am and one hour at 5pm on January 1, one of the slowest days of the year, the hourly price for consumers covered by that rate shot up to a historical maximum of 964.88 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), as collected by data from Red Eléctrica de España (REE).
– This is a figure that is unprecedented, not even seen in the worst moments of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After that record recorded at 9 in the morning, a several hours later, at 5 in the afternoon, the price of PVPC skyrocketed again on Wednesday to exceed 800 euros per MWh- specifically, it did so up to 0.80 euros per kilowatt hour (kWh).
– For this Thursday, January 2, prices fluctuate at much more normal levels: between 0.139 and 0.278 euro cents per kWh. Source, Spanish: https://www.eldiario.es/economia/ano-arranca-record-absoluto-precio-horario-tarifa-regulada-luz_1_11938082.html

ANDALUCÍA

Rental prices soared in Andalusia by 10.5% in 2024- financially challenged locals and pensioners are priced out of markets as applications from “low quality renters will always be discarded”: {Translation}
– The price of rental housing in Andalusia closed the year 2024 with an increase of 10.4% compared to 2023 and the square meter stood at 11.8 euros per month, a figure that marks a record high, according to the analysis of the real estate portal Idealista. This figure represents a quarterly growth of 7% and 2.8% in the last month, reported Idealista in a statement.
– The prices of rental housing have grown in 2024 in all Andalusian provinces and especially in the provinces of Malaga (10.2%), Granada (9.9%), Seville (9.2%), Huelva (8.5%) and Almeria (8.1%). Below 8 % are the increases in the provinces of Cordoba (7.9 %), Cadiz (6.1 %) and Jaen (2.9 %).
– Jaén is the cheapest province for renting a property, with 5.7 euros per square meter, and on the opposite side of the table is Málaga, where the price per square meter reaches 15.2 euros per month.
– The trend in the price of rents is upward in the Andalusian capitals in the last year and leads the increases in the city of Huelva (13.4%), followed by Malaga (11.4%), Seville (9.5%), Cordoba and Jaen (9.1% in both cases). The smallest increases were in Cadiz (4.3%), Almeria (8.3%) and Granada (8.8%).
– Malaga is the Andalusian capital where it is most expensive to rent a property, with 15.1 euros/m 2 , followed by Seville (12 euros/m 2 ) and in both cities rents reached their highest price since idealista has records. On the other hand, Jaen (7.5 euros/m2 ), Almeria and Cordoba (8.6 euros/m2 in both cases) are the cheapest capitals in Andalusia.
– For Francisco Iñareta, spokesman for idealista, 2024 has confirmed the market crisis by further reducing the scarce supply and driving up prices and has lamented that the policies that “have brought us to this point are not only maintained but threaten to harden with more intervened markets”. The reduction of the available supply, in addition to increasing prices and generating anxiety in families, makes renting an exclusive preserve of those profiles with better salaries, more savings, greater family support or great job security, he explained.
– In this way, owners will have more and more profiles to choose from and will always opt for those who offer them greater security of collection and recovery of the property in the event of non-payment and, according to the Idealista spokesperson, in this scenario the most vulnerable families or those at risk of being so will “always be discarded”. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/1855070/el-precio-del-alquiler-se-disparo-en-andalucia-un-105-en-2024/ 

MALAGA PROVINCE

2025 work calendar in Malaga- holidays, long weekends and local festivals by municipality: {Translation}
– Each town will once again enjoy 14 labor holidays, two of them local in nature. These local rest days are already pre-established in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) published on October 24.
– Thus, the national holidays are again New Year’s Day and Epiphany (January 1 and 6), Holy Thursday and Good Friday of Holy Week (in 2025 they fall on April 17 and 18), Labor Day (Thursday, May 1), August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which falls on Friday), the Spanish National Holiday (October 12)*, All Saints’ Day (November 1) and the three December holidays (Spanish Constitution Day, Immaculate Conception and Christmas). In the case of Andalusia, we must also add the day of the community (February 28, Friday).
* In 2025, October 12 falls on a Sunday, so the Spanish National Holiday is moved to Monday 13.
– Below is a link to the source article, where a tool will allow you to search for the 2 local holidays for each Malaga municipality.
https://www.diariosur.es/malaga/calendario-laboral-2025-malaga-festivos-puentes-fiestas-20241125131241-nt.html

MALAGA CITY

A cold front with rain threatens the Three Wise Men parades in Malaga: {Translation, summary}
– Rain threatens the last big event of Christmas as a result of the arrival of a cold front that will affect the entire peninsula, except the far west. All eyes are on the sky to see if, finally, the most exciting evening of the year, the Three Kings parade, will be wet in Malaga. With three days to go, Meteorology sets at 90% the probability of precipitation.
– As of now there is no announcement regarding postponing the events in Malaga City, although some other municipalities inland have already done so. Check with your Town Hall to avoid disappointment. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/frente-frio-lluvias-amenaza-cabalgatas-malaga_0_2003070313.html

EUROPE

Romania and Bulgaria become full members of EU’s Schengen zone:
– Romania and Bulgaria scrapped land border controls to become full members of the European Union’s Schengen free-travel area on Wednesday, joining an expanded bloc of countries whose residents can travel without passport checks.
– Fireworks lit the sky at a crossing close to the Bulgarian border town of Ruse just after the stroke of midnight as the Bulgarian and Romanian interior ministers symbolically raised a barrier on the Friendship Bridge straddling the Danube River. The crossing is a major transit point for international trade, and bottlenecks are common. “This is a historic moment,” said Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev. “From Greece in the south to Finland to the North and all the way to Portugal to the West – you can travel without borders.”
– Ireland and Cyprus are not members of the Schengen zone. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/world/romania-bulgaria-fully-join-eus-borderless-schengen-zone-2025-01-01/ 

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Era of cheap Russian gas to EU ends as transit across Ukraine stops:
– Russian gas has stopped flowing to EU states via Ukraine after a five-year deal expired, marking the end of a decades-long arrangement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country would not allow Russia to “earn additional billions on our blood”. Poland’s government meanwhile said the cut-off was “another victory” against Moscow.
– The European Commission said the EU had prepared for the change and most states could cope. Moldova, which is not in the EU, is already suffering shortages. Russia can still send gas to Hungary, Turkey and Serbia through the TurkStream pipeline across the Black Sea.
– But the end of the transit deal has already caused serious tensions with Slovakia, which is now the main entry point of Russian gas into the EU and earned transit fees from piping the gas on to Austria, Hungary and Italy. Slovakia has said it will pay more for alternative routes. Its energy regulator announced in early December that Gas prices for consumers would rise in 2025. Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, said on Wednesday that the end of the deal would have “drastic” consequences for EU countries, but not on Russia, Reuters reported. Full article & photo credit: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4glyjx9m71o 

PETS

If you have a dog, this is what you will have to pay for insurance in 2025 to comply with the new Animal Welfare Law: {Translation}
– On September 29, 2024, the new animal welfare law came into force, which obliges all dog owners to take out civil liability insurance, something that, until then, only those who owned a dog considered to be a dangerous breed were obliged to do.
– This is a policy that every canine guardian must take out to be able to pay for any expenses related to damages that the dog may cause to third parties (both physical and material persons). For example, if our dog bites someone during a walk or running in the park, knocks down a person unintentionally; as well as if it breaks something in a private property, such as a restaurant.
– How much can insurance cost? Before taking out insurance it is important to check if it is included with our home insurance, which is quite common. If it is not, we can contract it with any insurance company for an average price of between 25 and 30 euros per year (a little more expensive, 50 euros per year, for potentially dangerous breeds).
– The insurance company Unespa recommends taking out specific pet insurance which, in addition to civil liability, usually covers veterinary assistance, compensation in the event of loss or theft of the pet, or legal defense in the event of complaints in which the animal may be involved. An insurance with veterinary assistance coverage could cost up to 400 euros per year, and another with accident coverage would cost up to 97 euros per year.
– Failure to have this insurance is considered a minor infraction, for which guardians could face fines of between 500 and 10,000 euros. Source, Spanish: https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia/si-tienes-perro-esto-tendras-que-pagar-2025-por-ley-bienestar-animal-5668611/ 

OTHER

Jocelyne Wildenstein, socialite known for extreme cat-like plastic surgery, dies at 84:
– The Swiss socialite and cosmetic surgery aficionado Jocelyne Wildenstein, sometimes known as “Catwoman” due to her extensive plastic surgery, has died, her partner said on Wednesday. “It is with heavy heart and with great sadness that Mr Lloyd Klein announces the unexpected death of his beloved fiancée and longtime companion, Jocelyne Wildenstein,” the fashion designer said in an English-language statement sent to the Agence France-Presse news agency.
– Klein said that “Mrs Wildenstein died peacefully in her sleep in the late afternoon of December 31st, 2024 in her suite in Paris where the couple had taken temporary residence.” No cause of death was released at this time, it is pending further investigation.
Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/01/jocelyne-wildenstein-dies-swiss-socialite-cosmetic-surgery 

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CHURCHES & WORSHIP

Churches: Please submit your posts on Thursdays only, before 6pm.

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PETS FOR ADOPTION

Vélez-Málaga Municipal Pet Adoption Service, FREE adoptions:
– The animals are at the Don Animal Kennel and Feline Residence, currently located in Arroyo Granadillas Finca “El Olivar”, in Rincón de la Victoria (29730, Málaga). The adoptions will be totally free, and the animals will be identified with microchip and with all their mandatory treatments.
– Contact Telephone: 952971663
– Schedule: Monday to Friday from 9:00 – 14:00 & 16:30 – 20:00 and Saturdays from 9:00 – 14:00
– Email: info@donanimal.com
– Adoption form: https://donanimal.com
– See photo gallery of available pets: https://velezmalaga.es/index.php?mod=medio_ambiente&tag=servicio-municipal-de-adopcion-de-animales-de-compania

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Humour Section

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Fun & Games

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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
Currency Converter: https://www.x-rates.com/calculator/?from=EUR&to=GBP&amount=1
Internet Speed Test: http://beta.speedtest.net/
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

Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily. 
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/

DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/

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