Spanish Life
Monday Motivation: Thin White Privilege by Ali Silver
Before I start this post, I want to be clear – I am not an expert on the subject of privilege and I do not claim to. I can’t claim to know what it is like living in a body that has been shamed, criticised and made into an ‘epidemic’ by the media. But I am well aware of my privilege and I’m…
The Boar Wars
Spring has sprung early in the campo. There is almond blossom everywhere as Nature goes into seasonal overdrive, and my garden was looking particularly splendid, a minor miracle considering that I’m now in charge of it since my gardener, maintenance man and all around “fixer”, the multi-talented Florin, has moved on. Luckily he pops back every few weeks to make sure that the place is still…
Something for the Weekend? Book Review: “Moon Sister” by Lucinda Riley
Alicia Duggan at The Bookshop reviews the latest releases. Moon Sister is the eagerly awaited fifth volume in the Shadow Sisters series, however, the books can also be read as stand-alone novels. This novel follows one of Pa Salt’s adopted daughters, Tiggy. Tiggy takes a job caring for animals on the Scottish estate of Kinnaird where she meets Chilly, a gypsy, who informs her that she has a sixth…
Nav aims to reign in Spain
MTK fighter Nav Mansouri is looking to start 2019 with a belt as he takes on Jorge Fortea for the IBF Interncontiental super-welterweight division title in Marbella tonight. Mansouri (19-1-2) faces Fortea (18-1-1) at the Palacio de Deportes Elena Benitez, San Pedro at 9pm , and he’s hoping to come out on top. The Rotherham-born fighter looked confident and relaxed at yesterday's weigh in, held…
Police believe Playa Padre blaze started deliberately
Police investigating the blaze that destroyed trendy beach club Playa Padre this week now believe the fire was started deliberately. Three forensic experts from the Policia Nacional worked through the ruins of the beach club, co-owned by Eva Longoria's good friend Maria Bravo, yesterday. Early reports hinted that the blaze that completely gutted Playa Padre was deliberately started at several…
Playa Padre reduced to ashes in beach blaze
Boho Beach Bar Playa Padre burnt to the ground in a spectacular fire yesterday afternoon. Fire ripped through the popular beach bar, located on El Cable beach, around 7pm. Local residents where quick to call the emergency services, who were on the scene within minutes, but little could be done to save the thatched establishment, which was closed at the time. One of the most fashionable beach…
British Ambassador on Brexit: Get your paperwork in order
Outgoing British Ambassador Simon Manley urged anxious Brits without the proper paperwork to apply for their residencia ahead of the UK's scheduled departure from the EU. Ambassador Manley was speaking at the IV Brexit seminar held in Manilva earlier this week, as part of a visit that also saw him addressing Brexit concerns in Malaga, Gibraltar and Seville. The panel also included Mario Jimenez…
Something for the Weekend? ‘Killing Commendatore’ by Haruki Murakami
Alicia Duggan of The Bookshop reviews Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami Murakami is back with a masterpiece of a novel. I will start by admitting that I am a huge Murakami fan and this novel did not disappoint. Written in his inimitable style it is beautifully mundane and tantalisingly surreal in equal measure. The story begins with a successful portrait artist whose wife has recently left…
The Prince of Puerto Banus
The news flashed across my social media feed and I barely raised an eyebrow. Spanish Press were reporting the murder of a 49-year-old Spaniard who had businesses in Puerto Banus, gunned down outside his house in the early hours. Police were quoted as saying that the killing was a suspected ‘settling of scores’. ‘Here we go again’, I thought to myself, scanning the report and making notes for a…
New York, London, Paris, Milan and, errrm, San Pedro???
Fashionistas!!! Grab your Gucci, pack your Prada and book that private jet to....San Pedro??? One of the most unlikely stories to come out of this year's FITUR (International Tourism Fair ) in Madrid, was the Press Release claiming that San Pedro was set to be the centre of the fashion world. That's right. San Pedro. You know. The building site masquerading as a town that still hasn't…
Keep on running!
If you fancy a run for a good cause this Sunday, Centro Plaza shopping centre is hosting its annual charity race in aid of the Marbella Red Cross. Councillor of Sports, Javier Mérida, the Head of Emergency Services for the Marbella Red Cross, Alejandro Fernandez and the manager of Centro Plaza shopping centre, Carlos García presented the event earlier this week and pointed out the importance of…
Tributes for slain Marco
Puerto Banus residents paid tribute to Marco Yaquot , the 49-year-old Marbella businessman who was killed in the early hours of Monday morning. Marco, who was involved in leading nightclub TIBU, Linekers bar and Portside, among others, was hit by two bursts of automatic weapons fire as he drove his Bentley outside his villa in San Pedro. Among the tributes was "Mummy Marbella" Lina Hodgkins, who…
Fatal shooting in San Pedro
Marbella was in shock today after the latest gangland killing. Described as a "settling of scores", the 49-year-old victim, who was the well-known owner of a number of establishments in Puerto Banus, was gunned down in his Bentley as he drove up to his house in the Las Petunias area of San Pedro Alcantara at around 3.30am. Residents described hearing a number of shots, while Spanish Press carried…
Protesting-With no Bull!
It is a fairly well known fact that I'm not one of those ‘New Year, New You’ type of people, as the hulking pile of unopened self help books gathering dust in the far corners of my bookshelves will verify. But despite myself, I have made a few small steps to becoming a better person in 2019. Before you all drop your morning Martinis in mirth, I must confess that I’m unlikely to have some ‘Road to…
Brexit: Spanish government’s new web resource for UK nationals
On January 14 the Spanish government launched a new, dedicated section on the Moncloa website to inform UK and Spanish citizens and businesses on how to prepare for when the UK leaves the EU. The new site http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/brexit/howtoprepare/Paginas/citizens.aspxis available in Spanish and English, and covers areas including residency, healthcare, voting rights and education.…
Monday Motivation: Ali Silver – Choosing foods that you really want
This post is all about so- called “healthy” food swaps. You know the sort...cauliflower rice, ditching spaghetti in favour of spiralled veg and using ANYTHING other than white sugar (heaven forbid!) when it comes to baked goods. Disclaimer before people get aggy: Of course some people do need to make swaps if they have an allergy or simply don’t like the taste of some foods. So first up - the…
Hundreds march against Marbella bullfighting
Marbella showed its opposition to the planned return of bullfighting in a peaceful and well ordered protest yesterday. Over 700 people took part in the march, that started at Marbella's Plaza del Toros and ended with speeches at the Plaza del Mar. The current PP-OSP administration plans to reintroduce bullfighting as part of the refurbishment of the ageing bullring, despite a marked decrease in…
Advice ahead of bullfight demo
The organisers of Saturday's demonstration against the return of bullfighting to Marbella have issued the following information ahead of tomorrow's protest. "The march will begin on Saturday January 12, at 5pm at the Marbella Bullring. The route is as follows: Leaving the Bull Ring in Calle Serenata, heading to Avenue Severo Ochoa, then Avenue Ricardo Soriano, Also Camino Jose Cela, the…
Cold snap warning
Wrap up warm, it's going to be cold tonight! Weather warnings have been issued for much of the country, as a cold front is expected to arrive later today. The weather front will bring freezing temperatures as well as rough seas and some strong winds. In total some 28 provinces, including Catalonia, Murcia and Andalucia are expected to see temperatures fall well below freezing, and coastal areas…
Monday Motivation: Ali Silver – 10 resolutions that are not based on changing your appearance
In her first column of 2019, Ali Silver sets out some alternative New Year's Resolutions! Whether you are partial to making New Year's resolutions or not, the start of a New Year always brings about a feeling of freshness; wanting to make improvements and put your best foot forward. For many of us, and women in particular, this good intention gets warped into our view of our physical appearance.…
Tyson’s in Town!
'People's Champion' Tyson Fury is soaking up the Marbella sunshine this weekend. The boxer, who lost a controversial points decision to Deontay Wilder last year, was spotted relaxing in La Sala Banus earlier today, as well as getting in a little light training with a morning run. And as the photo shows, the Gypsy King was in a playful mood with some of the La Sala staff! Photo. Facebook/La Sala…