December 2012 - Costa Calida Chronicle

Being a Camposol resident on the “other side”
of the bridge and having a mid-week birthday
this year we decide to “stay local” so chose
The Alley Palais Bistro for an evening meal
and were not disappointed. Antoine, their top
chef has added some extremely tasty dishes
to a new menu including Morrocan Lamb
with Apricots, and profiteroles with chocolate
sauce & Baileys, (naughty but nice!) Our
waitress for the night, Kathy, was very attentive
and they even decorated the table for
me, which was a nice touch. The Alley Palais
Bistro is also now offering a Wednesday
night special set menu for only €9.95, representing
excellent value for money.
After several months of indecision, we finally
decided to have an additional internal
door fitted in the lounge of our Neptuno
style villa. There was an arch leading from
the lounge to the downstairs bedrooms and
bathrooms which has now been blocked off
with a solid wooden door. Suddenly the room
feels much cosier. Finding a good carpenter
these days can be difficult so I was delighted
when Philip Peacock came round to have a
look. He has an impressive portfolio and intimate
knowledge of the various villa styles.
He took all the measurements, made the door
and returned to fit it and it looks excellent; a
very professional job. I will be contacting him
again in the not too distant future to provide
some more cupboard space in the upstairs
wardrobes.
Did you know that if you ever need anything
shipped back from the UK you only need get
it delivered to a warehouse in Essex? We have
had a few shipments lately courtesy of Danny
at Daintons, who is constantly back and
forth from the UK. He only needs a bit of notice
and delivers right to your door.
When Gina asked me if I would take part in
the Strides Lions walk for Diabetes Awareness,
I said yes, especially when she said I
could bring the dog. It was on Saturday 10 th
November along the Paseo in Puerto De Mazarron.
The sun was shining and the walk was
well attended by Spanish, British and other
nationalities. On the way home we also made
sure we visited the FAST Christmas Fayre
to stock up on some cakes and sausage rolls
and did a bit of early Christmas shopping.
What a pleasant day!
More next month Teresa
In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com
December! Are you all prepared for the
festive season? We are getting there! Matt
and I are going to UK to take mum Jones
away for Christmas – first time ever either
of us been in a hotel for the festivities.
Found a nice looking hotel in Gloucester at
reasonable cost so mum Jones won’t have far
to travel. Mum Monk is staying here in Spain
and Sister Bobbie is Mum, house and animal
sitting! Thanks. It will be the first year I
have not been with family for ages, but then
I do see them almost every day, so it’s mum
Jones’ turn to see us and be pampered! All
is well at the base, but we have still not fully
cleared up from the Gota Fria mess. Every
time we plan a final clear up it rains again –
good excuse to light the fire and watch some
rubbish film on TV! It will get done! Followers
may like to know we have Terrapin five now,
given to us by Jean @ Noah’s ARC (thanks!)
A different breed from others and we thought
was a tortoise, but tried it in shallow water
and it swims and now in the big tank with
the others. Seems to be fine, but they are all
“sleepy” in the colder water.
TV NEWS
Not many new items for you - the big talking
point is “What will happen when the “F”
satellite comes into service?” We still have
no definitive answers for UK TV viewers in
southern Spain. It was successfully launched
on September 28 th (a week late!) and as
we speak is being tested ready to take all
the UK TV/Radio transmissions. Will they
be available down here? I expect so and
there will be no change, but I can’t be sure.
Some of the smaller dishes may have to be
upgraded to receive signal. We don’t know
what or when, so we cannot plan for any
eventuality that may occur.
We are investigating Internet TV which is
reasonably successful with a good Internet
connection and we have two companies
looking at specifications for Internet TV
boxes so that you will not have to use your
computer linked to your TV. Things are all
so unknown that no-one wants to invest too
much money in research, but the returns
would be high if the worst case happened and
there was no UK TV in Southern Europe by
satellite. Watch this space for information as
it slowly reveals itself.
The Spanish TV terrestrial system is rapidly
changing to HD (high definition) transmissions
and seems to be pushing the SD (standard
definition) options to weaker signals. If you
watch Spanish TV and have been losing some
channels, or are getting picture break-up,
then you may need to change to HD viewing.
Changing TV with HD built in is expensive, but
you can get an external HD digibox to receive
the channels. Much cheaper option, so ask us.
I know a few Scandinavian residents read
this newsletter. Sorry, but your satellite
transmissions have recently gone to a satellite
with a tighter footprint on Scandinavia and
you have lost your reception. No solution at
present. We have tried to receive the signals
on a 1.80m dish, but with no luck and the
investment to try a 2.40m dish is just too
high for the possible returns. Looks like you
must go the internet route.
FREETIME TV where you can look back over
the past 7 days and watch anything you have
missed has been launched and by all accounts
works well. Not managed to get a box yet to
test it down here.
We have just taken delivery of a Credit Card
machine so we can take all payments by
card if you wish – handy for paying the SKY
subscription renewals as we notify you of the
due dates.
That’s all for this month. Next issue will be
in 2013! Rainbow Satellites wish everyone
a joyful happy season with a wonderful New
Year.
Article sponsored by Rainbow Satellites the
company for all your TV needs in the Murcia
Region of Spain. Contact Alan or Matt for
free friendly advice by email rainbowsats@
gmail.com or by telephone (0034) 686 358
475, but please remember that when you call
we may just be on a roof installing a dish!
Leave a message and we will always get back
to you. Our website www.rainbowsats.
org has some good basic TV information
especially for newcomers to Spain.
Page 44
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