Mojacar
village in the sunshine
Almería
News
flash for Residents
Spanish
pharmacies are now advising customers that the new prescription
co-payment scheme will begin on 1st July. Some details
are still unclear, however, we have been informed that
a resident tax declaration will be needed as proof
of income for prescription charges. So those people
who have been visiting our fifth floor over the past
couple of months can feel releaved that they should
have the paper work in place to prove their income.
Corvera
airport (Murcia)
There's
hardly a week goes by without an update. In this article
on Tumbit, we hear that there is still optimism that
the airport will be functioning by October. However,
this proposal is still overshadowed by issues such as
military airspace and compensation payments to
San Javier:
www.tumbit.com
Murcia Today even reports rumours that the airport
is up for sale:
www.murciatoday.com
And other sources suggest that even the delayed predicted
opening of Summer 2013 is unlikely to happen.
So, once more, it's watch this space.
Illegal
homes
We
had a request from a newsletter reader for an update
on the illegal builds in Almeria. Here is one
news story that throws some light on the current situation.
It does give an indication of just how far the problem
extends. Of course, behind each individual story is
a tragedy of high hopes and great disappointment.
www.typicallyspanish.com
Counterfeit
cops
In
some regions we are aware that the local police have
been reigning in the illegal street sellers.
You know the ones. You've just sat down on the front,
order your long, cool drink and up they come wanting
to know if you'd like to buy their 'very nice' sunglasses.
And it's not just on the coast the 'looky, looky' men
loiter. If you should take a trip to the Sierra Nevada
you might be forgiven for thinking they have followed
you there - this time they're selling skiing goggles
of course.
For some they are only trying to make a living, for
others, they're a complete nuisance - people who trade
illegally taking custom away from more deserving
traders.
Whether people who buy 10€ Gucci handbags really believe
them to be the genuine article is another matter.
And would they really opt for the 1,000€ version if
the street sellers weren't around?
However, just in case you would like some guidance on
the matter of separating your Calvin Klein from
your Kalvin Clein, a handy little leaflet has been issued
by Torrevieja townhall, 'Cómo evitar las falsificaciones'.
It's top 10 pieces of advice in relation to fake
goods consists of:
1. only buy products directly from the manufacturer
or shop
2. beware of any offer that seems to be too good to
be true
3. check the advertising - are there grammatical errors
and spelling mistakes?
4. look for the name and information about the manufacturer
5. avoid buying products that are being sold informally
6. remember - counterfeit goods might breach health
and safety standards
7. pay attention to perfume and cosmetic imitations
- their contents can cause allergic reactions
8. electronic and IT software and hardware can create
difficulties with the rest of your network
9. Look for the mark 'CE' which indicates that the product
complies with EU rules
10. lastly, don't just go for the cheapest - fakes lack
quality, safety and durability
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Ábaco update
We've reached the resident deadline!
At
least temporarily. The deadline for the resident
tax declarations is now upon us. It has been a very
busy time in the office and all our tax advisors would
like to thank our clients who helped them get the returns
out on time.
You can still submit your resident tax declaration or
return but there will be a fine. As you might
expect, the later you leave it the greater the fine
will be. This article explains why it's important to
make your resident tax declaration and what you might
expect the fine to be:
www.abacotaxes.com
We will keep you informed of any additional information
we receive.
Even
more about prescriptions
'Typically
Spanish' have just published an article that lists the
drugs and medications that will no longer be
available with any discount. Patients requiring these
drugs will have to pay the full cost. The list includes
treatments for:
- Constipation and diarrhoea
- Hemarrhoids
- Psoriasis
- Cognitive impairment associated with age
There are 456 medictions included in the definitive
list.
www.typicallyspanish.com
Well
done Spain!
The
next issue of the Ábaco magazine includes an
article about the Spanish health service. The overall
impression of those foreigners who do have to use its
hospitals, is positive. The two articles below reinforce
this view. They are each written from a different perspective
- maternity and transplants - but the overall message
is that here there is something for Spain to be proud
of.
In this article we hear about the excellent maternity
services in Barcelona and get a slightly different
view point of the recession.
www.psmag.com
In this one, we learn of the ground-breaking research
and practice in the field of transplants. It
also encourages us to consider why Spanish families
are so much more likely to allow organ donation at the
point of death. A key difference which can mean life
or death to others.
www.guardian.co.uk
Online
papers
Online
newspapers can be a real godsend when you live in one
place and want to know what's happening in another.
If you own property in Spain and holiday here regularly,
it is nice to be able to dip into your local free
paper and keep in touch. We've done a quick summary
of three online papers but we know there are many more
out there.
Here's our breakdown but we'd very much like to hear
from anyone living or with property in other regions
of Spain - which online paper takes your fancy when
you're thirsting for a spot of news?
The courier
www.thecourier.es
Pages: 47
Head office: Agua Nuevas, Alicante
Download from: thecourier.es/latest-issue
Features include: Grumpy Old Gran, Local Look-in
Recommended for: UK headlines and Spanish Press
The euro-weekly
www.euroweeklynews.com
Pages: 111
Head office: Costa del Sol (also issues in the Costa
Blanca North and South, Mallorca. Axarquia and Almeria)
Download from: euroweeklynews.com/download
Features include: Finance, business and legal, controversial
Leapy Lee
Recommended for: short, pithy articles
The round town news
www.roundtownnews.com
Pages: 73
Head office: La Nucia Alicante
Download from: roundtownnews.com/downloads
Features include: Watts in Britain, RTN Mail
Recommended for: well of course, our own column in RTN
Money - don't miss it!
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