Personal update for the week that has fortunately gone: We had a blowout -or at any rate a very nasty Trojan isolated by our inimitable computer guru. Our apologies for not being able to keep you updated. We also had to use our umbrellas inside thanks to neglecting one of those oh-so-nice-in-the-summer flat terraces that leaked like a sieve (our inimitable guru says: 'Things are exactly as they should be': alas, he's right!). As a result of this latter, the fuse box popped and popped and finally died. After over seven hours of looking for the fault, our inimitable-also-electricity-guru-without-whom-who-knows-what discovered that a cable leading from the fuse box onto the patio, and painted over for centuries, had been fixed to the wall with a steel L-nail (good logical thinking!), had rusted and therefore ... oh, no matter, it's fixed. Our enormous thanks to our inimitable guru, though! And incidentally, Prospero was asked this very morning if he had retired, as JimenapPulse seemed to have stopped. Puzzled, Prosp enquired as to wha' the deevil ... Retiring from what? He's not old enough! NO! JimenaPulse continues as ever, or as long as anyone is willing to look in and advertisers are willing to cooperate...
We couldn't resist this photo by Natalia that we saw on TioJimeno. If we could only find the end of the rainbow...
(Ress release) Jimena Council has announced that, in accordance with a similar national law expected to be in place next year, it will be proposing (and presumably approving by majority) a ban on all tobacco smoking in the municipality's public places, including not only bars, restaurants and all buildings but also streets, plazas and gardens. The proposal is to be put to the Council at its next plenary session and the ban is expected to come into effect as from its publication in the Official Provincial Bulletin (BOP in its Spanish acronym), approximately by mid-January. Strong opposition from non-governing parties is expected. (Prospero note: no mention is made of other substances.)>
Roscón de Reyes is a traditional Three Kings treat. Shaped like a large doughnut and usually tasting a little of lemon, it is decorated with dried fruits and contains a surprise or two for the lucky finder. The gift is usually a coin, though sometimes it also contains the traditional dried bean as a joke. Its origins go back to the round cakes that were offered to the god Janus during Roman Empire times. It is available at this time of year at bakeries and supermarkets.
(Agencies/Photo: GibChronicle) Passengers on a Gatwick to Gibraltar flight yesterday found themselves sliding down the emergency shutes of their aircraft after landing safely at Málaga, where they had been diverted by bad weather on the Rock. The plane was apparently struck by lightning and, according to AENA, the airport managing company, the measure was taken as a precaution by the captain. The lightning struck after the plane had already come to a standstill, and there were no injuries. According to The Gibraltar Chronicle, passengers found themselves safe, shoeless and a little shocked in the terminal. One report said that the smell of smoke had set off the alarm in the aircraft.This incident comes amidst extreme bad weather. (Read more in a sneak preview of CampoPulse.)
(Agencies) The Council for the Environment, through the Water Agency of Andalucía, has begun work on water supply to Jimena and Castellar (Photo: EuropaSur). The project, which will cost some €1,750,000, is aimed at improving both the quality and quantity of the water presently available to the municipalities. Work has begun at the Majarambú wells in Castellar, from where it will be pumped to the water treatment plant (WTP) at Arenillas, from where the pipes will take the water to the municipalities. The underwater pumps to be used will have a capacity of 20 litres per second. The project also includes more pipes for Castellar that will eventually be attached to the Campo de Gibraltar's general network.
(Agencies/Photo: Andalucía Información) Although the forecast for today promises a break, the weather over the last 48 hours (Christmas Eve and Day) has brought little but rain and problems all over the Campo de Gibraltar. The Guadiaro Valley (photo of the main road from Jimena towards the coast) had the most problems, as we've been reporting all along. Some 300 litres per square metre were measured at the weather station at Cepsa's Gibraltar-San Roque refinery. The result of rainstorms that haven't been seen in the area for at least 11 years is a whole series of roads being closed, homes, garages and fields being flooded throughout the Algeciras Bay area and inland. Some examples: (read it in a sneak preview of CampoPulse)
(Image by A B Lobo) He's fat, drinks a lot, feeds on sweets and smokes a pipe. This is the none too healthy image of Santa Claus, according to the 'British Medical Journal', which publishes a study on the old man's bad habits and what he can do to improve his health. The study by Nathan Grills and Brendan Halyday, of Monash University of Melbourne, Australia, suggests Santa could learn a few things about dieting and healthy living. For instance, he could start eating more vegetables by sharing a carrot or two with Rudolph, who also comes in for some criticism in another study. And he should give up his pipe: no more smoking. It's bad for him and the elves, not to mention the people whose homes he breaks into to deliver presents. He likes his drink, but binges: on one night a year he drinks for the North Pole at every home on Earth, where families often leaves out more than just a glass of milk. As they say, don't drink and drive. But we don't know what he does the other 365 days. Not enough exercise, says the study. This is apparent in his rotundity.>
Caroline and Broughan hosted a thank-you party yesterday for regulars at the Oba. Called 'nibbles', the food had a distinct resemblance to tapas, but whatever it was called, it was plentiful and delicious. Regulars at the pub turned up throughout the afternoon to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. It is a nice gesture, we feel, that might be copied by local bars. Caroline reminded everyone that the next Quiz Night will be on Thursday, January 7th and that she will be closed on New Year's Eve this year. (Thanks for lunch, ladies!) More photos below.>
We had an e-mail this morning from our firefighting friend 'fedebombero' (a.k.a. Fede Jiménez), who, having worked hard all day, takes the trouble to tell us what he and his brave companions had been doing yesterday (they are in the background in Anna Breeker's photo - translation of his e-mail below: fascinating reading). He also thanks the Local Police and the Guardia Civil for their help in rescuing several people during yesterday's heavy storm. We at JimenaPulse are certain you would join us in offering our thanks and congratulations to them all. (See also our item on the dramatic event of an injured man rescued from the forest)>
(From an e-mail from Fede Jiménez, one of our local firefighters, and other sources) Today, the firefighters belonging to the Jimena brigade of the Provincial Fire Brigade Consortium of Cádiz have carried out some 15 operations caused by the storm: pumping water from flooded homes in Jimena, Estación and San Pablo, two electrical fires, etc... However the most significant of all was the rescue of a man in the cork forest. The call came in at 1.30pm: a Jimena resident was out in the Los Gavilanes area , about an hour away from Jimena, picking mushrooms, in a forest he knows well and from which he makes a living . Suddenly, he falls down a ravine breaking his leg very badly:.>
(Agencies) Judge Steven D. Merryday, of Tampa, Florida, yesterday ordered Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. to return treasure it extracted from the sunken Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. Judge Merryday rejected the latest appeals presented by the US company regarding gold and silver coins and other objects in an ongoing legal battle resulting from Odyssey's claim to the treasure from the Spanish vessel sunk in 1804. The treasure reached the US in a somewhat obscure manouevre via Gibraltar. (Read more about it here.) 
(Agencies) The earthly remains of the greatest Spanish writer of the 20th century have not been unearthed in Alfacar, against all expectation. The evidence not only fails to reveal anything about Lorca’s whereabouts – it strongly suggests that no human being was ever interred in the lonely olive grove, utterly contradicting all the traditional lore surrounding the poet’s mysterious death.
(Photo by Paisajes Aéreos) The Sports Press Association of Cádiz has awarded the Santa María Polo Club this year's prize for Sports Promotion as a recognition of its work promoting the sport and in making the Campo de Gibraltar an area of reference at European and world levels. Among the best clubs in the world, Santa María has three tournaments among the World Polo Tour (WPT), the Ignacio Domecq Memorial in the Challenge Cup category, the Sotogrande Gold Cup in the Grand Slam category (ranking with the British Open at Cowdray Park and the US Open at Palm Beach), and the Silver Cup, which ranks in the WPT Championships Cup with The Queen's Cup at the Guards Polo Club and the US Gold Cup. (See more in a sneak preview of CampoPulse.)
The Peña Flamenca of Jimena plays host tomorrow, Wednesday night, to an evening of Flamenco included in the seasonal programme (check Jimena Christmas Events widget on sidebar, or the UpComing Events calendar for more). Cantaor (singer) José Segovia Cortés 'Canela Hijo', winner of numerous specialised awards, will be onstage from 10.30pm. Flamenco enthusiasts are expected from all over the area. Tickets are €6.
Jimena's Municipal Band is offering two concerts. The first is tomorrow evening (7pm) at the Casa de la Cultura Leopoldo de Luis, just above the Town Hall; the second is scheduled a week later at the Casa de la Cultura Enrique Tierno Galván in San Pablo, at the same time. Entrance is free. The Municipal Band was formed in 2003 with students from the Municipal Music School (see UpComing Events calendar for their concerts) under the direction of Francisco Navarro>
(Agencies/Photos: EuropaSur) CHICLANA - The developer, knife in hand, and members of his family, climbed onto the rooftops to stop the demolition. People renting some of the homes are considering legal action against the developer, Antonio Tocino Verdugo, for never advising them that the houses were scheduled to come down as the result of a judgement against him. Local Police and an anti-riot Guardia Civil unit turned up early yesterday morning, just ahead of the demolition machinery, and cut off adjacent streets. Just before that they had arrested 28 people for resisting authority. They were released during the morning after making their statements. (See more in a sneak preview of CampoPulse.)
(Agencies/Photo by EuropaSur)The oil tanker Vermaoil XXI ran aground just after 8 this morning, having been blown onto the Poniente beach in La Línea. All emergency procedures were put into place rapidly, though no fuel leakage has been detected as yet. A sister tanker, the Vermaoil IX is being assisted at sea by tugs based at the port in Algeciras.The same storm also blew a sailing boat onto the western (poniente) beach. According to a communiqué by the Algeciras Port Authority, both tankers had been anchored in waters close to Gibraltar, their usual anchorage. Each ship has been slapped with a €200,000 surety against possible damage and will have to remain at Algeciras until these are paid. Capitanía Marítima has filed against them for non-compliance with several regulations, including alleged neglect on anchorage.
We received a new weather warning from Jimena's Protección Civil. YELLOW ALERT for wind tomorrow Monday, December 21, and an ORANGE ALERT for rain tomorrow and Tuesday, December 22. The warning has gone out to the whole province, as you can see on the map. Included in the e-mail were a series of precautions to be taken just in case, translated below. Up to 80 ltrs/m2 is expected in some places.>
By now you will have noticed the widget thingy on the sidebar. If you click on that image you will be taken to this item, where we will be updating your bah-humbuggedness. See below for regular updates...
Life could be summarized in only four bottles...
Jimena is offering a whole series of events throughout the season. Check our UpComing Events Calendar, see the full programme below or click on this image on the sidebar. It's all there for a different Christmas: from typical seasonal food to flamenco; from villancicos (Spanish carols, which might even include a zambomba) to a Three Kings parade; from live Nativity scenes to the arrastre de latas. (If we say so ourselves, some of the items we've published in the past on this season are quite good. Links above.)>
CASTELLAR - A total of 102 children of the Tierno Galván infants' school in Castellar took part today in a belén viviente ('living nativity scene'). Shepherds, stars, Romans, angels, sheep and, naturally, Joseph, Mary and Jesus, as well as the Reyes Magos (Three Kings, or Magii), were on a three-level stage to offer this year's Christmas Pageant. The whole thing was organized by their parents and teachers as a good-bye to the children's first term at school.
(Press Review) El Mundo says Spain has had to note that Morocco is in control in the disputed Sahara area. A statement from the Spanish Government says ‘while the matter is resolved by the United Nations, Moroccan law applies in the Western Sahara’. The paper says that Aminatou described her return as a triumph for the Saharawi cause. Most papers have the photo of her leaving hospital in Lanzarote at the end of 32 days on hunger strike.
(Agencies) Ryanair has announced a new operations base to open in Málaga in June next year, which will be the low cost airline’s 38th base worldwide and its fifth in Spain. Four aircraft are to be permanently based at the facilities. The company's CEO, Michael O’Leary (photo), gave the news at a press conference in Málaga on Wednesday, announcing that the new base will bring with it 19 new routes from the Costa del Sol capital, bringing Ryanair’s total routes at Málaga Airport up to 39 and its number of flights per week up to 360. The new routes include connections in Spain with Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza and Valladolid, and, in Europe, with Berlin Schonefeld, Munich West, Paris Beauvais, Stockholm, Oslo and Venice.>
(Agencies) Twenty-four suspects were arrested this week in an anti-drugs operation linked to the port in Algeciras, according to news reports. The total haul amounted to 213 kilos of pure cocaine coming in shipments of bananas from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Thirteen of the suspects worked at Algeciras port and included stevedores, crane and forklift operators and security guards. At a press conference held at the Guardia Civil command in Cádiz, it was revealed that the operation began its investigation in November last year and officers assigned to the operation also seized 26 vehicles and €42,000 in cash. Documentation relating to a number of un-named companies, apparently registered in Gibraltar, is being scrutinised at present. (See more in a sneak preview of CampoPulse.)
(Agencies / Photo: EuropaSur) Forty years after the last voyage of the Punta Europa ferry that linked the Rock with Algeciras across the bay, the two are once again 'in touch' by sea. Named in honour of its predecessor, the Punta Europa Segundo ('the Second') docked in Gibraltar on Wednesday with authorities, business people and local press aboard, to be met by their counterparts on the Rock. It was the catamaran's inaugural run. With room for 150 passengers, the Punta Europa II's schedule includes five daily return trips on Monday to Friday, and three on Saturdays - a new public transport aimed at workers on either side and another tourist attraction.
(Agencies) A private citizen who wishes to remain anonymous yesterday donated a number of Christmas hampers to the Council's Department of the Environment, to be distributed to families in need throughout the municipality. Aside from seasonal goods, the hampers also contain non-perishable goods and have been passed on to the Department of Social Services for distribution. Councillor Noelia García (photo, with a municipal worker) thanked the donor and emphasised the importance of such gifts at this juncture of a financial crisis that is seriously affecting the municipality. A campaign is under way to collect non-perishable goods for distribution throughout the municipality. See details here.
(The Gibraltar Chronicle, by Alice Mascarenhas / photo by Johnny Bugeja) Gibraltar came to a buzzing standstill yesterday afternoon, showered in red and white, and bathed in sunshine, to welcome Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino back home. There were unprecedented scenes of jubilation of enormous magnitude, with an entire population wanting to join in this once in a lifetime celebration, wanting to be a part of history – not just local but world history. (See the whole article in a sneak preview of CampoPulse.)
Protección Civil has sent us a yellow alert warning of bad weather for tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday. "Residents are warned to take special precautions for rain and to take the necessary measures to protect themselves and others," it says. Our Weather Widget predicts stormy weather for all next week, until Christmas Day at least.
