My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

Friday, September 30, 2016

Brexit and Mancomunidad

Those of you who are supporters of the website www.eupats.com will have been aware of an upcoming meeting of the Mancomunidad de Almanzora at which we (Andrew Mortimer, Lenox Napier and I) were to do presentation to garner their support (all 21 Mayors).


That meeting was held today in Zurgena Town Hall and was a great and positive success. We will be circulating more details when the press release is completed but suffice it to say my colleagues at Europats and I were delighted with the reception to our presentation.


Thursday, September 29, 2016

Los Llanos del Peral Pozo

In an effort to assist the residents of the area of Los Llanos del Peral (where their waste is going into the pozo to the east of Avenida Poetas)  I have arranged to hold a meeting so that all those affected can hear the options available and the likely costs. I appreciate that this is not a Town Hall issue but one where we need to provide help to the residents to reach some sort of way forward.

We will hold a meeting in the village hall at Los Llanos Del Peral at 12 noon on Wednesday 5th October. I will bring our councillor for Public Works along with me and we can discuss the problem. 

Friday, September 23, 2016

Spanish Classes

We are going to try with the free Spanish Beginners classes again with Jose Manuel in the church hall at Los Llanos del Peral starting from Tuesday 4th October at 0915am. If there is sufficient interest he will continue with them as long as they are wanted but, if insufficient numbers, it may be uneconomic. I will leave it to Jose to determine if there are sufficient numbers.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Almeria Trip

I now have confirmation of the next trip which is organised by the Town Hall on behalf of the Diputacion.

It is on Thursday 20th October and leaves Zurgena at 0845 arriving Almeria at 1000. At 1030 the tour visits the Alcazaba and at 1230 the Refugios (which, for those who do not know, are the underground installations used by the residents of Almeria during the bombing in the Civil War). At 2.0pm lunch is taken and at 4.0pm a visit to the Historical Houses before returning to Zurgena at 6.0pm. The price is €12 per person. There are limited places so if this trip interest you please let me or the Town Hall know together with your NIE number asap. Lunch not included

Bad News - Los Llanos del Peral Communal Pozo Update

Following an inspection it appears that the ground around this pozo is saturated and the only course to remedy this situation being suggested is the installation of another pozo. The Councillor for Public Works can obtain a quote for that or the residents can if they wish.

Our application for the funding (a total of €80,000) to install a connection from this area to the main sewerage pipe has been turned down for this year. The reason the Junta gave for turning it down was they said that this was creating a new urban area. We did argue with them as we maintain it is not a new area, and it is included in our PGOU but they are adamant.

UPDATE

Sorry. To clarify I made the mistake of thinking that once our application had been submitted and accepted by the Diputacion that it was approved, but, when the official response comeback they had refused 3 out of our 9 applications, including the one.

Some of the residents have suggested that our assessment of the problem may still be faulty and that they wish to ensure that they have all the correct facts and are considering commissioning an expert to look at the problem. We are happy to support whatever course of action the residents wish to take and will help where we can.


Jose´s Spanish Classes

We are wondering whether it is worthwhile recommencing the Spanish Language classes at Los Llanos Del Peral village hall like we did last year.

These would be for one hour duration Monday and Tuesday morning at 0915. If we have sufficient interest we will restart them. Just let me know.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Meeting & Possible Fun Day

Last night we held a lengthy meeting (8.0pm until 10.40pm) discussing amongst other things our application within the Provincial plans and those we were successful in and those we had had rejected.  Out of 9 we had applied for  6 were approved and 3 rejected. Our Councillor for Public Works is going to return to Almeria to see if he can convince them to approve more. I will post once we have confirmation of what has been successful.

One a lighter note;

A FUN DAY WITH A DIFFERENCE. 

HAVE YOU EVER FANCIED YOURSELF AS A BULLFIGHTER? NOW DON´T SWITCH OFF AT THIS STAGE - BEAR WITH! 

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES WITH ANIMALS WHICH ARE NOT CRUEL OR HARMFUL AND THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY IS ONE SUCH. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED SOMETHING SIMILAR IN HUERCAL OVERA, WHERE ACROBATS JUMPED OVER FULL GROWN BULLS, BUT THIS IS NOT QUITE THAT EXCITING!  

THE IDEA IS THAT WE GO BY COACH (PICK UPS IN LOCAL AREAS from 1200) THE SHORT DISTANCE TO SANTOPETAR WHERE THERE IS A SMALL BULLRING. THERE, THOSE WHO WISH TO, CAN TAKE TURNS AT ENTERING THE BULLRING AND DODGING THE CALVES LIKE A REAL BULLFIGHTER. THE CALVES ARE NOT HARMED OR TIRED IN ANY WAY. THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPTURE YOUR HUSBAND, WIFE OR FRIEND SHOWING HIS OR HER PROWESS! 

PAELLA, JAMON, CHEESES ETC WILL BE PROVIDED AND A FREE BAR WILL BE OPEN FOR THE DURATION. 

THE DAY WOULD END ABOUT 6.0PM THE COST OF THE BUS, FOOD, DRINK AND FUN IS €30 OR LESS. BEFORE WE CONFIRM THE EVENT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INTEREST. SO IF THIS INTERESTS YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW BEFORE 30TH SEPTEMBER EITHER 

CALL 610194260 OR EMAIL JIMSZURGENA@GMAIL.COM

Monday, September 19, 2016

Harmony Community Fair and Show

Harmony Community Fair & Show will take place on Saturday 22nd October 2016 at the Renfe Complex in La Alfoquia.We will be open to the public from 11.30 until 16.30 with plenty to appeal to everyone.

Lots of classes to enter including vegetables, floristry, baking, needle and papercraft plus children's classes too! Doors are open for entrants at 8.00 and judging will take place at 10.30. Entry forms are available from:

C.A.T. Services - La Alforquia
Total Entertainment - Albox and Arboleas
Tel: 627 635 514  

Plenty to see and do throughout the day with Live Music performances organised by Dave Sharp,Quilt Exhibition, Dog Show, Line dancing, Amigos Classic car Club, Bar, Hog Roast, Revels Eatery, Ice-Cream Van, many Craft Stalls, Games, Raffles, Tombola's plus the Show.

ALL MONIES RAISED WILL GO TO HARMONY COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Inter Culture and Culinary Day 14th October

We have an idea to hold an inter cultural day probably in the Renfe on Friday the 14th October. This would involve the participants each presenting their home area.

One of the ideas put forward was for any residents, who wish to assist, to prepare any of the following for presentation; a culinary dish representative of their home area, a Power point presentation about that area, emblematic items from that area and any photographs etc. The idea being to show to the local people things from our localised culture. The Spanish would do the same for us. So helping both communities understand each others roots.

As an example and for my part, being Scottish, I thought I could do a short powerpoint presentation with views and pictures emblematic of Scotland and supply a haggis! This is just an idea at this stage but I think it is one worth trying to get off the ground.

If you agree that this is a good idea and you would like to assist please contact me with any ideas you have.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Drainage Problems and Activities and Events for Autumn

As those of you who live in the following areas are aware there are problems with the drainage systems in Calle Miguel Servet, Los Menchones and the area of Avenida Poetas, Los Llanos del Peral.

The problems are similar in that they both relate to excess waste and its disposal. Yesterday the Councillor for Public Works, the Town Hall foreman and I visited Los Menchones and investigated the reason why sewerage was overflowing from the main street drain. We discovered that unknown to the homeowners at least 3 had systems where any overflow is released into the street drainpipe which is not, as yet, connected to any other pipework. This leads to a build up in waste overflowing into the street. Each home which we could identify as having leakage into the street pipe has been informed (with the exception of 2 which were unoccupied) and they will have their systems cleaned and capped off so that no further leakage can occur. Once this is done the Town Hall will clean the street pipe.

In relation to the pozo which serves the area of Avenida Poetas I have received a number of emails, some quite terse I have to say, but from these emails I am assured that no-one in the area is backwashing their pools into the drain pipes. The Council do not understand what is happening but this Saturday they are going to investigate all the pipework to try and identify where the problem lies. It may, in the end, be that the ground in the area of the existing pozo is saturated and can take no more waste, in which case another one will need to be installed, but until we have investigated it we do not know for sure. The connection of the pipework for this area to the main pipe leading to the big dipuradora has been approved by the Diputacion and should be installed in the next 3 or 4 months. So once we have identified, as best we can, the cause of the problem we will know better which course of action to take. I hope this helps explain what we are trying to do and I do apologise if I caused any upset with the previous post relevant to this issue.

Every Tuesday from 1000 x 1100 Walking Football at the Football Pitch by the pool in La Alfoquia with Ian Hamilton

Every Monday at 1900 in Zurgena Pabellon Badminton.

Every Wednesday from 28th September meeting at 1000 at the pool bar a country walk with Kath Gaskell.

Every Monday and Thursday 1930 x 2030 Mobility Gym at Palaces Village Hall with June.

Every Friday 1030 x 1130 Easy Zumba at La Vida, Cucador  with June

Sunday 2nd October Harvest Festival Church at Los Llanos del Peral

Friday 14th Saturday 15th October at 1900 and Sunday 16th 1500 in Zurgena Theatre a Comedy by the Charitable Theatre Group (tickets obtainable from CATS.  If you know of any other events or want them included (which the above will be in the mobile phone app) just let know.

Friday, September 9, 2016

Activities in Autumn, Spanish Classes in Zurgena, Trip to Almeria

We are trying to update the mobile phone application and other publicity with all the available activities during October ,
November and December.

If you are organising or have arranged any events that you want including in the publicity please let me have details asap.

On another matter the Spanish classes held  by Manolo in the 3rd Age room in Zurgena are due to restart on the 15th September. If you want to register or check whether there is are vacancies his telephone number is  651 09 0728. (just amended it due to being informed that I had the wrong number on)

A date for your diaries is 18th October the TH is in the process of arranging another trip to Almeria and full details will go on the mobile phone app and here when confirmed.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Los Llanos del Peral Communal Pozo

We have a serious problem with the communal pozo which serves the area of Avenida Poetas in Los Llanos del Peral.

We are far too frequently having to pay to have it emptied. It should last for at least a year but it was cleaned on the 8th August and was full within a few days.  This can only have occurred by someone putting a huge amount of water into it.  Probably backwashing a pool. This obviously leads to smells and peoples toilets and waste water backing up.

If you, or anyone you know in this area, is doing this please ask them to stop. We will try and have it cleaned again but cannot continually afford to pay for this every month. It is scheduled for comnnection to the mains sewerage pipe but this may be months away yet.