Classic for CUDECA

Summer is finally here on the Costa del Sol and the SOL Classic Car Club has come out in even larger numbers. The Club opted this month to devote all it’s energies towards fund raising for the CUDECA hospice organization here in Andalusia. As many will be aware CUDECA needs all the support it can find during this critical times.

To add a little spice to our usual country run the Club opted to ask every member participating to arrive in the attire of the period of their car. A simple request one would have thought. Little did the organizers know the extent to which members would go and enthusiasm this request would release. Normally member’s pristine cars are the stars of the show, not this time. Saturday saw John Lennon and Yoko turn out in a white Rolls Royce, Mandy Rice Davis and partner in an E Type just to mention a few of the memorable icons of the sixties. Saturday saw, if only for one day, the highest concentration of flared trousers on the Costa del Sol for some time, probably the sixties. One member of the Gibb brothers made and appearance as did a city gent complete with his Porche and red braces.

The country run usually take in remote Andalusian villages, however this time the locals were regaled with the most awesome sight of their lives as strange aberrations from a distant past descended on them. The odd exotic car can reasonably be tolerated but exotic people in constantly adjusted ill-fitting wigs, proved to be too much. Several locals were observed to be in a state of wide mouthed shock. Even the testosterone laden young boys were outdone on this occasion, having completely lost the power of speech. They truly had never seen a spectacle of cars and people like this before. If the SOL Classic Car Club were to descended in an alien space ship on the same unsuspecting country Venta next month I doubt if the locals would bat an eyelid as they would have seen it all before.

The Classic Car run was completed with a meal at the Vista Del Mar restaurant on the Mijas Costa where raffles held and prizes were given to the best attired participant. Needless to say John and Yoko carried the day. The day’s event raised over 3500 Euros for the CUDECA charity

For all members and prospective members interested in technical matters the SOL Classic Car Club has a technical meeting on the 16th of June 2008 at the Streets of London again in Mijas Costa at 19:30 at which a technical presentation will be given by one of our members with and opportunity for questions from the floor. These meeting are held on the third Monday of every month. The July technical meeting will be on the 21st July.

The next SOL Classic Car Club meeting is on the 1st July 2008 at the El Chaparal Golf and Country Club in Mijas Costa at 19.30 with a run planned for the 5th July 2008. These monthly meeting are very well attended by members and partners as they are excellent social gatherings that enhance the Club and give an opportunity for the exchange of new ideas and the formation of friendships. New members are always welcome, for further details of the Club’s activities visit www.solclassiccarclub.net or email the Club secretary at jean@solclassiccarclub.net

Whats New !!!

The Stadium Bar in Alhaurin el Grande is under new management. With the complete range of Sporting events to view and the likeable Manager John to have a yarn to, make sure you drop in for a coldie and catch your fav game!

The International Cafe in Coin is also now under new management and with a great new re-furb it’s the place to escape the summer heat and chill! Weight Watchers are there every Tuesday night from 6pm and Texas Hold’em coming soon! The whole range of Business/internet and phone services are still available next door with superb help always on hand from the friendly team.

Tastebuds Bar & Restaurant on Av. Blas Infante in Alhaurin el Grande is looking for both male & female darts and pool players to join the Tastebuds Team for the upcoming seasons starting with a fun comp every Tuesday night for the Darts and Wednesday nights for the pool players (€5 entry). Drop in and see Jacqui for details or call 699 395 297.

BookPoint the new English Bookshop now open in Torremolinos on Av. Isabel Manoja 10. About time we say! With a full range of latest release books, great 3 for the price of 2 offers, greetings cards, UK Postal service and passport renewal service available, Bookpoint has it all! 952 057 269.

The Near & Far Supermarket in Torremolinos is also now open for business. Packed full with all your favourite foods and goodies from the UK. Make sure you pop in and stock up for the summer at Calle Marques de Salamanca. 699 277 332.

Arts and Crafts Market and Car Boot at Venta San Antonio between Pizarra and Ardales. Every Saturday 10am to 2pm. Tel: 952 458 413 or 696 068 598

On Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 July, Bar Coyote in Alhaurin el Grande are holding the Costa del Sol Darts Open in aid of CUDECA CANCER HOSPICE. Entry fee is 15€ which includes singles dart contest, Saturday night entertainment & a Sunday Carvery. Tickets are available from Bar Coyote, Mrs Chippy (Alhaurin el Grande) & The Reef Bar (Fuengirola Port).

URGENT - NEED FOR AN AMBER ALERT SYSTEM THROUGHOUT EUROPE:

"Forever Searching" are a volunteer group who actively raise awareness of missing children, throughout the world. We need your assistance in raising public awareness to the need and to the importance of the Amber Alert system.

In April 2008, Gerry and Kate McCann presented a written declaration to the European Members of Parliament (MEP's). This written declaration "Emergency cooperation in recovering missing children" calls for an EU cross-border missing child alert system.

Such a system would immediately supply to relevant news media, border authorities, customer and law enforcement agencies, details of any missing child and any suspected abductor..

The written declaration is only "live" for 3 months from presentation, and requires half of the MEP's to sign during this period, if it is to become official resolution.

According to the web-site Europarl, There are currently 783 MEP's registered. Currently, this declaration has only 192 signatures, for the declaration to become an official resolution at least 400 signatures of MEP's are required.

The general public have until the 21 July to lobby their MEP, to support and sign the written declaration "Emergency cooperation in recovering missing children" that was presented by Mr & Mrs McCann.

The public can write a letter to their MEP at the following address:

European Parliament
Correspondence with Citizens
GOL03A012
L-2929 LUXEMBOURG

Public can fax their letter through to: Fax: (352) 43 00 27 072

The majority of MEP's have e-mail addresses which can be found on the European Parliament web-site.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert.do?language=EN

Should any member of the public require assistance with this, they are more then welcome to mail urgent@foreversearching.com - one of our members will only be too pleased to assist.

Without the signatures of those additional MEP's - AMBER ALERT throughout  Europe will not happen - How many more children have to be abducted before the rulers of our countries use their power to at least make it more difficult for abductors to move abducted children across borders.

Please assist Forever Searching in engaging your readers to promote this much needed system throughout Europe.

 Quotes:

"The AMBER Plan has had a tremendous impact in saving children's lives in America" said Ernie Allen, NCMEC CEO and President. - November 2002.

"As a nation, we rejoice each time one of our children is brought home safely after enduring the trauma of an abduction. The AMBER Alert program has proven to be a vital, successful tool in returning these innocent children to their families," said Attorney General John Ashcroft USA. - September 2003.

"The AMBER Alert program shows that each and every one of us has an important role to play in the search for abducted children," said Ernie Allen, NCMEC President and CEO- USA - January 2005

"The stunning success of the AMBER Alert is directly related to the unprecedented cooperation of alert citizens and the media with local law enforcement," said Deborah J. Daniels, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs, who also serves as the National AMBER Alert Coordinator. USA - May 2004.