My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

Friday, June 30, 2017

Aqua Aerobics and Walking Football

Final definitive arrangements for the above;

June will be doing her aqua aerobics at the municipal swimming pool from 1000 x 1045 each Tuesday and Thursday from next Tuesday the 4th July and the classes will be free. They will continue throughout the summer. Only restriction will be numbers.

Ian Hamiltons´ walking football will be on the same days and times but will have to start charging €2 pre person to use the artificial pitch. Apparently some have complained that other groups have to pay and it is only fair that all do.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Pleno and Walking Football

This evening at 8.0pm we had our 3 monthly Plenary session of the council. The attendance was rather disappointing with all the administering councillors in attendance but not one of the opposition councillors!

Our mayor recorded his disappointment in the recording of the meeting. The upside was that, with no opposition present, the meeting was over in a little over 35 minutes! I think a record in the past 10 years.

We passed a total of 6 items and these included the IBI discount (once formalised will post details)  and approval for a new petrol station.

Iam Hamilton who takes the walking football on Tuesday morning is starting to also have a Thursday morning session (due to the popularity) and tomorrow will be his first Thursday one starting at 1000 hours.


Stray Dogs and Cats

It seems that problems with animals pose more of an issue across the world than almost anything else!

40 years ago as a uniform sergeant I had to represent the Police and the Council of Wakefield at an annual meeting at which residents were encouraged to raise their community issues and concerns, such as crime, antisocial behaviour etc. Rather surprisingly to me the issues raised were all about dogs and cats! Now here I am 40 years later and guess what - same things.

Over the past 2 weeks we have received a number of complaints particularly about stray dogs in 3 separate areas. It would appear that in some cases individuals are feeding these dogs which of course encourages them to stay in the area they are being fed in, which is residential. This can and does seem to give rise to complaints.

The process for the Town Hall is that when we receive a complaint we send the Police to try and check if the animals are microchipped (which is why we bought them a microchip reader) in which case the owner can be traced and made responsible. If the dog is not chipped then the Police can seize it or we can call in the pound staff to seize it. Of course this can be expensive for such a small town as if they cannot find or catch the dog we still get charged. On the last 3 occasions we have despatched the Police to check stray dogs twice they have been unable to check if microchipped and only once managed to seize 2 alsatians.

May we ask that people desist from feeding stray dogs in residential areas please.


Friday, June 23, 2017

Photos of the Legion Safety Exercise Day

I have today received a selection of photographs released by the Legion of our safety day exercise last month.












Thursday, June 22, 2017

Aqua Aerobics Postponed starting date

Many apologies the starting date for the Aqua aerobics has had to be put back to the first Tuesday in July e.g. 4th July and each following Thursday and Tuesday through the summer.

Sorry for any inconvenience.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Aqua Aerobics & Charity

June Hamilton is holding her Aqua Aerobics classes again this summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1000 x 1045 at the municipal swimming pool in La Alfoquia.

Junes classes are very good and she knows what she is doing. I know as I attended one last year and it was an excellent workout.



In relation to charitable acts the Town Hall honoured David Shear and his organisation PIRdA for their work and donations of 25 reconditioned computers to the villages schools and the library.
His organisation takes donated unwanted computers and he cleans them reconditions them and brings them up to date and then after installing the appropriate software installs them in the schools and other needy places. The pictures below show David being presented with a plaque and ceramic plate and the group of helpers who support his organisation.


Also today the Town Hall was pleased to receive from the Church members from Los Llanos del Peral a total of 21 bags of food for the poor of our municipality. These will be distributed over the next few days.



Friday, June 16, 2017

BBQs IBI Discount, DOGS and Llanos Fiesta

I have had a number of people question whether they are allowed to have BBQs given the various warnings regarding the weather and the annual restrictions on what can and cannot be done in respect of fire safety.

The rule is no BBQs in the campo or any other unrestricted open areas but in your own gardens there is no problem. Any public event which wishes to hold a BBQ must ask for permission from the Town Hall.

Our next Plenary meeting will be held on the 29h of this month. I have asked the following two items to be placed on the agenda. The first should make it in time not so sure about the second yet!

1. A discount of 5% to be given on IBI bills to all who set up direct debits to pay it annually.

2. A bylaw (norm) making it an offence to allow your dog to be off its lead in a public street or to allow it to defecate in a public place and not clean it up. This is to support the Police in their actions to control dogs and make our town and suburbs a cleaner place.

The Fiesta for Los Llanos del Peral is being restarted this year after a few years of not holding it. The time of the year is different to previous years and I have shown below the programme.

2ND OF JULY ROMERIA 2017
IN HONOR OF OUR PATRON
THE VIRGIN OF CARMEN
LA ALFOQUIA – ZURGENA

10AM MEETING POINT FOR CARRAIGES AND HORSES
AT THE PLAZA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN, LA ALFOQUIA

GIFT FOR THE PARTICIPANTS  (ROMEROS).

DEPARTURE OF THE VIRGIN OF CARMEN WITH THE ROMEROS TOWARDS THE BARRIO OF CHICAGO , AFTERWARDS TO CUCADOR.
ARRIVAL AT THE¨ CHAPEL VIRGIN DE LA SALUD¨ ( LLANOS DEL PERAL ).
AFTERWARDS ALL THE ROMEROS OR PARTICIPANTS WILL ENJOY CULTURAL DAY AT THE PICNIC AREA.
GIFTS GIVEN TO THE BEST CARRIGES AND HORSES.
6PM CHURCH SERVICES AT THE CHAPEL VIRGEN DE LA SALUD ( LLANOS DEL PERAL ) .
AFTER THE CHURCH SERVICES WE WILL CONTINUE WITH SURPRISE ACTIVITIES  AT THE PICNIC AREA.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Cultural Day September 30th

As things are now slowing down for the summer months Lola and I have been discussing what we should do for our next Cultural day once the heat of summer has gone. We have decided to partially replicate the formula we did last year on food.

The day which, we thought, went really well, was the food day. This was where we had a few people present a recipe from their culture. The people who were selected did a short presentation of on their food and how to make it e.g. I did haggis.

Hopefully we can get 3 people who have not previously presented to do this at this next event. They could also bring along a sample of that food for people to try after the main demonstration which would be by a local Spanish lady of how to make traditional Gurullos and Gazpacho to a Zurgena recipe.

So the programme would be along the lines of ,

11000 Presentation by 3 individuals of their traditional food and how to make it
1145 Demonstration by Lola Antas of how to make traditional Gurullos and Gazpacho.
1300 Eating and drinking of the foods brought by the attendees from their homelands.

It follows that all persons attending can bring along a food (and drink if they wish) from their homeland.

At this stage I am only asking for volunteers who would like to present a dish. Once we have decided on the presenters we will publish the details and  registration for the day will take place. This will ensure that we have control of the numbers of people and the foods which will be available.

The last such event was a great success and I would hope that this could be the same.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Police and Breathalyser

The Polizia Local have now taken delivery of a state of the art breathalyser machine which will enable them to carry out roadside breath testing. This machine is an evidentially acceptable and accurate machine.

Previously the local Police would have to wait for a machine to be delivered to them to carry out such a test but now they have the means to enforce drink driving laws in our municipality and make our roads safer.

They also have been provided with a micro chip reader to assist with the control of dogs in the area and other items of equipment to help them perform their duties.

Officers Jose Anthonio Aliaga and Francisco Bonillo.


Permanent Electricity Supply, Outline for Alfoquia Fiesta, Miss Tourism, Music & Another Insurance Contact

We have recently helped a number of our residents who are still on temporary electricity supply to obtain a permanent supply, by the provision of a Definitive Boletin. One company who is conducting this work is MEZUR based in La Alfoquia. Their office is on the square in front of the Panaderia Argentinian in La Alfoquia. The lady in the office is named Puri. The basic cost for this service is €100 with an option to upgrade the potency for a further €40. Their contact details are email mezur@hotmail.es telephone 950634499. They do not speak english but for a simple bit of work such as this it is not difficult.

Rough outline of planned events for Alfoquia fiesta week are as follows;

9th July 10.0am Petanque tournament (Teams welcome)
9th, 10th,11th Football Tournament
Possible Bowling Tournament 12th?
13th July Day of the child kids get discounts on attractions.
13th July 1200 Crowning of Fiesta Queen and music at the Renfe
14th July Free entry to the pool and aquatic games at 1700
15th July 0930 Free churros for Senior Citizens, 1900 Foam Party at football pitch by the school
16th July 0830 Church Service and 0900 Procession.
There will also be music most evenings of the week and we are looking to bring in some British musicians to provide music earlier in the evening as the Spanish musicians start about 11.0pm. If you know of any who may be interested in performing as them to get in touch please.

ALSO I have been asked if I know of any attractive personable young ladies between the ages of 12 and 20 who may be interested being the Miss Tourism La Alfoquia 2017. Of course I answered that I did not know any attractive young ladies! But if you know of a lady who fits this description please let me know.



Recently contacted by a young man acting for DKV Insurance company and he wanted to get his contact details out to the english community. His company provide differing integrated insurance solutions including life, health, travel, funeral etc. His contact details are
Fernando Artero Cesar mob 622355611 email fernando.artero@dkvdirecto.com
website dkvseguros.com.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Fiesta Dates Summer 2017

Dates for your diaries for this year.

Fiesta de San Pedro, Casas Nuevas,  La Alfoquia 1st 2nd July

Fiesta Virgen del Carmen, La Alfoquia Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th July

Fiesta de San Ramon Nonato Zurgena Thursday 31st August to Sunday 3rd September.

When the agenda is agreed I will post details.


Friday, June 2, 2017

Evening Walk Reminder

Just a reminder that we have the annual evening walk by moonlight on the 10th June starting at 7.30pm from the Pool Bar.

This is a very enjoyable walk of 10kms and ends back at the pool bar. It is necessary to register for the walk on this link

http://rutasysenderosdealmeria.es/ver/zurgena---367/

Any problems registering let me know and I will help. The cost of the walk is 5 euros this is just for insurance and some refreshments after the walk.