May to August 2009 - Newsletters - Extracts
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The consulate emphasised the benefits of registering as a British national living in Spain in the event of problems arising, either man made or natural catastrophes. Registration can be made via www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas.
They further stressed the importance of making sure that your name is included on the padron at your local ayuntamiento as the availability of facilities such as teachers, doctors, nurses and hospital places and all other services provided by the council are based on numbers registered.
The main source of reference is www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk
Was your mobile switch off in November?
The 2007 Anti Terrorist Law dictating that pay as you go mobile phone users must register ownership details with their servers is about to be enforced. If you have not already registered your details, you should do so now. If you do not then your phone will be deactivated in November. The details required are: The telephone number, the sim card number and your name, passport number/residency number.
Purchasers of mobiles since 2007 should be registered but to be on the safe side visit your service provider just to make sure.
Myles, a regular member of the group, has taken up a new appointment in Nerja with the law firm, De Cotta, McKenna y Santafé. As a good many of you will remember he gave a series of valuable talks on a number of things that are important to know about when coming to live in Spain. We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the help he has given to members. We wish Myles, Lara and Poppy the very best in their new home.
Whilst saying good-bye to Myles we can also say hello and welcome to Rob Westwater who has worked for De Cotta, McKenna y Santafé for some time but is now taking responsibility for their Granada office. Rob has been to a number of the group meetings. I known that he his keen to maintain the regular contact with the group and to that end will be giving a series of talks in the Autumn reflecting on various changes in Spanish legislation and any updating that has become necessary following the talks given by Myles.
A meeting was held on 16th June 2009 at the Hotel Almazara to discuss the establishment of a Loja Branch of the Royal British Legion. In attendance was the local area organiser, David Pusey, the area treasurer and approximately 26 other people interested in setting up a branch. A web address has been set up for communication with David and has been sent to those who attended. If you requested to be informed of progress but were unable to attend the email address is: Davis Pusey at lojaRBLspainsouth@gmail.com.
An English section has been set up in the Loja Biblioteca, the town library above the Mercado Municipal and members of the English speaking community are very welcome to join. All you need is your NIE or passport and two photographs.
Thank you to all those who donated books over the last two years to raise donations for AECC. Unfortunately hardbacks do not seem to be popular and a market was not found for them. They were however welcomed as an addition to the public library.
If you haven’t discovered it yet, a very useful web site is: www.aytoloja.org
This gives details of local facilities. For example under Turismo you will find details of local utilities, train and bus times, hotels and bars, musical and cultural events taking place in Loja and much other information. It is worth exploring as there is a great deal of local information available. Also look at Agenda Cultural for information about events happening in Loja. Or join Artifice.
Friday night sees the formal launch of AAPL – Asociacion de Anglo-Parlantes de Loja. The art exhibition will still be in action, and there will also be live music provided by Salt of the Earth, a blues-rock band. One of the fundamental aims of the AAPL is to represent the needs of the resident English speaking community in Loja and the surrounding Poniente area of Granada province. To best serve this end the AAPL will follow a three-fold approach to encourage better integration and understanding between both the immigrant and native cultures of the area:
1. Support:
The Association is hoping to set up, as soon as possible, an advice centre in the centre of Loja to support and advise members when dealing with paperwork. We hope to be able to offer clarification on issues of registration, residency permits, health cards, taxes and other bureaucratic issues.
2. Arts and Culture:
To organise and run exhibitions, workshops and excursions to explore and discover local culture - eg, trips to other cities, visits to museums, public films in V:O., concerts etc. These will be offered to members at discounted prices for groups.
3. Language.
The association want to be able to offer classes to help with learning and improving language skills; organise social evenings to meet and practice with interested local Lojenos; to set up intercambios (meetings between Spaniards and English speakers to help one-another with learning) and to offer trips and activities that encourage more local people to get to know us - and vice versa. Art Exhibition – Through Other Eyes/Con Otros Ojos A view of Spain through the eyes of non-Spanish artists putting their own individual interpretations of the Spanish scene.The exhibition is the first cultural event of the new Association of English Speakers in Loja. More information on the association and how to join will be available at the exhibition.
Con Otros Ojos is the inspiration for an ambitious summer art and photography exhibition taking place in Loja over the next two weeks. The event brings together eight diverse artists living and working in Andalucia, all with various approaches and styles. Mick Richardson – Web Site If you are interested in the wild life and nature of the region you will find many beautiful photographs on Mick Richardson’s web-sites which can be found at:
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