My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Pleno 29th June

We held a Pleno meeting of the Council last night at 8.0pm.

Amongst the items on the agenda were the applications for 2 pig farms. Not approved. The agreement for the percentage pay for staff who are off wok due to illness and last but not least a change of name for one of our villages.

The village of El Palaces will no longer be referred to as El Palaces but as Palaces. It may sound a small change but it has been a source of annoyance amongst locals for  many years. So all references signs and maps will be amended to take this change into account.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Business Registration

As a result of trying to sort out the legal situation, for an expat, regarding being self employed I have discovered a company who can do an excellent job with helping people register as self employed and can advise on the best route and cost to ensure compliance with the employment laws in Spain. Surprisingly there are a number of options some of which are very reasonable in what has to be paid to ensure National Insurance equivalent is accrued.

The lady is Ms Amparo Ramos Gallego and she has an office up near Sola´s place. Their email is aramosg@andaluciaemprende.es and web site www.andaluciaemprende.es. Telephone 671532482. If you ned any help setting up a business just get in touch.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Trip to Archena

There is a Diputacion organised trip to the Spa at Archena on 30th June 2016.

The trip includes the coach travel, food and entrance to the spa and thermal bath. The price is €25.

If you are interested you need to register at the Town Hall before 3.0pm Tuesday 28th with your passport and NIE.

Referendum Result

Well that was a shock to me I was truly surprised by the outcome but life goes on.

As far as immediate actions are concerned nothing changes. Both Cameron and Donald Tusk (President of the EU) have confirmed that nothing changes regarding the status of British people in the EU or vice versa. Any changes to that will be part of the lengthy negotiations which will take place over the next few years.

Spain has its own issues to deal with in the upcoming election this Sunday and it still looks like a possibility of no party being able to form a government. The local people I talk to cannot see Podemos and PSOE forming a coalition and that is the only likely group that, according to the polls, could form a government.

The world looks a different place today. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Junes Gym

June Hamilton held her trial gym yesterday evening at Palaces and although we thought no one was interested a few did turn up and June has agreed to start holding them regularly each Monday and Thursday at 8.0pm

Below is a picture of those who went last night. You can see various ages!


Water 21.06

As many of you already know there is no water across most of our municipality and beyond. This is due to a burst main water pipe and Galasa are working on it but it may take another 3 hours to repair fully and return the water supply.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Church Race Day and More Names

 The Church Race Day event at Los Llanos village church was a great success and the below message was received from them after the event.

  We were thrilled to have the attendance of so many from within the Zurgena Municipio and, since the event last Thursday, all those we have 'bumped into' during our normal daily lives have spoken of their thorough enjoyment of such a fun and happy day.  Your attendance with Mayor Luiz was the icing on the cake! 
   Since publishing our photos on our church Facebook page we have had over 600 hits with accompanying delightful comments, and because outreach was our primary mission - and fundraising secondary - we are all in a state of shocked amazement that, at the end of the day, we achieved the sum of 720 euros for our church and our missions.  
   If you can pass our  grateful thanks onto the community for their support of the event in any way Jim, then please do so. Thank you again.



Also we are trying to contact the following people who need to reconfirm their padron,

Gordon Chalker, Kevin Ronald & Lesley Rose Cheeseman, Patricia Karen Mason, Linda Joy Howat, Lisa Kim & Tony John  Satchell, Kenneth Miles & Pamela Carole Thomas, Richard Francis Chambers, Thomas Henry & Eva Lewis.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Aqua Aerobics Updated Pool Opening

Our keep fit person (June Hamilton) is now, with the support of the Town Hall, going to run Aqua Aerobics classes at the Swimming Pool in La Alfoquia. They will be held at the municipal pool Mondays and Wednesdays at 10.0am

June´s Zumba classes at La Vida will close for the summer after the class on Friday 1st July for the summer.


Thursday, June 16, 2016

Thursday 16th June

Spoke with Fran our councillor for Public Works this morning regarding some of the outstanding matters.

He contacted Galasa regarding the water supply for the Bowling Green and they will have it installed by Wednesday of next week. We are currently doing a lot of work around the area of the swimming pool for it to be open next week and that includes a lot of tidying up etc. and Galasa are involved with this. That is the commitment they have given us as next weekend we have the walk and 24 hour football tournament so things are in place to have that work completed.

I gave him the list I have of issues from La Alfoquia Residents Association and will send an email regarding those matters direct to them.

I also gave him a list of the areas you have requested to be tidied up Calle Adriano, Calle Nervion (green area) Calle Macedonia and the areas who have asked for more street lights including Calle Francia, Calle Macedonia, Calle Alemannia and Calle Chipre. He has a list of those requests which will be attended to as and when he has available manpower.

He is trying to get some signs for the bad visibility bit of Avenida Europa until we can do something more permanent.

We only have a few permanent workers and they are kept pretty busy but when we have larger projects, which we need workers for, we apply to the Junta and they send them. They have agreed to send 3 teams of workers over the next six months and it is those worker who will utilise to do the more task intensive jobs. Such as the new roundabout by the petrol station.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Elderly Fitness Gym

Our very own Fitness Instructress (June Hamilton) is to hold a trial gym exercise for the over 55´s.

The idea is to see if there is sufficient interest to run it as a weekly event. It will be open to both the Spanish and expat communities and the taster session is to be held in the village hall in Palaces with June at 8.0pm Monday 20th June. This taster event is free for all.

So if you feel you would be benefit from a gentle work out go along and see what it is like. If there is sufficient interest (I understand that quite a few of the local ladies will be taking part) we will do it as regular weekly event.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Moon Walk, Luna Llena

The Diputacion have organised an evening walk for Saturday 18th June commencing at 8.0pm from the pool bar area.

The walk is a circular walk of 9kms  and is described as being of gentle to moderate grade. The walk should take between 2 & 3 hours and there is the option of enjoying a meal in the pool bar after the walk.

The cost of the walk is €4 for insurance etc but for €10 it includes the meal.

Registration can be made at this link. Although I am informed by those of you who have tried it does not allow you to pay for the meal. I will query on Monday.

http://www.dipalme.org/Servicios/cmsdipro/index.nsf/informacion.xsp?p=deportes&documentId=26E7FC6C6C32587EC1257E51003F0D91

If you require any help with the application or anything just let us know.

PS
Due to a number of you having problems with the above link if you wish to go on the walk just email me your name, NIE and address and I will put you on the list. I will pay the €5 which I will collect on the evening if needs be.


Saturday, June 4, 2016

LOLAS 3RD SPANISH COOKING DEMONSTRATION AND RECIPES.


Today we had there 3rd of the Town Hall organised Spanish Cookery demonstrations. Todays recipes were Magra con Tomate and Albondigas. 
Firstly I have to, again, add my sincere appreciation and thanks to our wonderful Spanish neighbours. Lola (Deputy Mayor) Manuel (councillor), his mother Modesta and father Domingo, Victorino and his wife Emilia, and our own Lianne Wright.  I still never cease to be amazed with the kindliness and friendliness the local people show us. These people gave up their Friday evening to shop for the ingredients for today, their Saturday morning to prepare the food (one full hour skinning and chopping 5 kilos of tomatoes!)  and, even though they mostly have full time jobs, their Saturday afternoon for the demo. Where else in the world would indigenous people do so much for immigrants!!
I was asked for the recipe and Lola forwarded one to me on WhatsApp. I have done my best at interpreting it and have appended it below. But please correct anything that looks incorrect because although they gave me an apron I am not a chef!






INGREDIENTS

HALF KILO OF MINCED PORK
1 SLICE OF STALE BREAD
2 CLOVES OF GARLIC
1 BUNCH OF CHOPPED PARSLEY
HALF AN ONION
2 EGGS
50 GRAMS MILK
SALt PAPRIKA 
NUTMEG

FOR THE SAUCE
50 GRAMS OF OLIVE OIL
1 LARGE ONION
1 CLOVE GARLIC 
1 GOOD FIRM TOMATOE
3 SLICED GREEN PEPPERS
3 SLICED RED PEPPERS
50 GRAMS OF WHITE WINE
300 GRAMS OF WATER
1 TO 2 MEAT STOCK CUBES OR SALT
PAPRIKA

FOR THE COATING
STALE BREAD
2 CLOVES OF GARLIC
1 BUNCH OF CHOPPED PARSLEY

METHOD

FOR THE COATING

PUT THE BREAD IN A  FOOD PROCESSOR TOGETHER WITH THE GARLIC AND THE PARSLEY AND WHIZ FOR 20 SECONDS UNTIL FINE. THEN PUT TO ONE SIDE.

FOR THE MEATBALLS (INGREDIENTS AS ABOVE)

PUT IN A GLASS DISH THE CHOPPED BREAD THE GARLIC THE PARSLEY AND THE ONION 
AND WHIZ FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS. ADD THE EGGS, THE MILK, SALT, PAPRIKA AND NUTMEG AND MIX ALL TOGETHER AT A HIGH SPEED. 
POUR THE MIXTURE INTO A BOWL TOGETHER WITH  THE MINCED PORK AND MIX IN. IF POSSIBLE ALLOW TO STAND FOR AN HOUR.  
NEXT COVER THE MEATBALLS IN THE BREADCRUMBS PREVIOUSLY PREPARED AND THEN BROWN THEM OFF IN THE PAN WITH OIL. ONCE EVENLY BROWNED REMOVE AND PLACE TO ONE SIDE.

NEXT WITHOUT CLEANING THE DISH FROM THE ORIGINAL MIXTURE MAKE THE SAUCE. 

FOR THE SAUCE (INGREDIENTS AS ABOVE)

FINELY CHOP THE ONION, GARLIC, SKINNED TOMATOES, GREEN AND RED PEPPERS. THEN PLACE ALL INTO A FRYING PAN AND COOK FOR 10 MINUTES. THEN WITH A SPATULA CLEAN ALL THE RESIDUES FROM THE WALLS OF THE GLASS BOWL AND ADD THE WINE, THE WATER, THE STOCK CUBES AND THE PAPRIKA MIX TOGETHER AND ONCE MIXED ADD TO THE PAN AND COOK FOR ANOTHER10 MINUTES. WHEN THIS COOKING HAS FINISHED ALLOW TO STAND FOR 20 SECONDS.

FINALLY POUR THE SAUCE OVER THE MEATBALLS AND PLACE THE COMPLETE DISH IN A  PRE HEATED OVEN AT 180 DEGS UNTIL COOKED 20 TO 30  MINUTES. ALTERNATIVELY YOU MAY COOK THEM IN THE FRYING PAN BY SIMMERING FOR 25 MINUTES.

For the Paella

Fry the 500 grams meat (chicken) for two people until brown then add 500 grams of sliced peppers. 1 chopped red pepper. 2 chopped onions. 250 grams of peas and 250 grams of frozen white beans, 1 dried red pepper. 250 grams of tomato .
Add the water and saffron and leave 10 minutes or until water boils and then a cross of rice is done and left cooking for a further 20 minutes. If it is missing water add the chicken stock
Then cover 5 minutes and ready to eat

Magra

Ingredients
500 grams of pork (or whatever meat you want)
300 grams of green peppers
300 grams of fresh ripe tomatoes

1.-First chop the pork into small cubes and fry in oil. (you can use other meats) Add salt.Leave cooking until all the water comes out of the meat. About a good half hour or more.
2. Then add the green peppers and cook until soft.
3.-Then add the peeled and chopped ripe tomatoes. Its best to use fresh ripe tomatoes 
4. When the tomato is cooked it is ready to eat.




Friday, June 3, 2016

Ascot Day

The church at Los Llanos del Peral are to hold a Race day on Thursday 16th June at the village hall.

The event will commence at 3.30pm with the first races at 4.0pm. Children will be taking the part of the horses and there will be a Royal Enclosure where Cava etc will be .erved.

Entrance to the event will be €3 and will include refreshments.

It should be a fun event