Message Home - via the local evening newspaper.

A chance to read the article I submitted to the Lancashire Evening Post - Here Published on Saturday 25th Feb 2017.

The Montgo - a photographic homage!

"If you love the Montgo - You'll love this!" A quote I used on Facebook to announce the exhibition of photographs currently on display in Casa Del Cable (The Cable House) in Javea Port. A visit to a stuffy old art gallery it isn't!

Jake and Jean

Jake Abbott and Jean Felche have been capturing, on film, the Montgo feature and the surrounding National Park since 2011. A personal project and, as it has developed, a "labour of love." Not only have they photographed the feature every season but almost every day.

Their endeavours have rewarded them, and us with several high quality calendars depicting the Montgo through the months, the seasons and the years - a truly fluid depiction of a beautiful landscape.

The exhibition represents a sheer respect for the Montgo and they invite you to do feel the same towards what they quote as being an "incomparable natural monument." They certainly have reproduced and reflected many parts of its immense beauty. They effectively pay immense respects by showcasing their first twelve images that made up their first calendar.

It's poetic in a way that the exhibition is housed in the Cable House. One of the stunning pictures was taken from a boat out on the sea - a stone's throw from the building. Jake has managed to capture the moment the waves rise above the boat and all that can be seen above it is the top of the Montgo. Surely a view those marine cable layers would have seen in 1860?

Casa Del Cable

The exhibition takes up both floors of this 19th century building, a restoration project the Javea town council should be proud of. As I wandered around I checked out some of the old telecommunications artefacts. Well, I was in that industry for years!

Come along and see for yourselves. The exhibition runs until 13th February 2017 but if you miss it why not visit their studio in Denia on Calle Mejor 11 or visit their website at www.pelutipelat.com Got your own special photo of the Montgo? They can provide a picture framing service.

Check out four stunning views of the Montgo - Here

Javea documentary video

Click on the box below to access an informative video about Javea. It's a must watch if you're considering moving to Spain or just looking for an ideal holiday destination for next summer. Check out a selection of screen grabs below of Total FM's contribution to the video.

Not in the video but a great sunrise over The Med

Chris and Wendy Williams - Owners of Total FM

 

My colleague, Stu Forsyth presenting his Midday Madness Show

Colin Harkness prepares his Fine Wine and Dine Show in the background

Two months off! Now back to the blogging.(Time to catch up)

Hello and welcome back to Costa Del Blogga. I know it's been over two months and these pages have been lying dormant but I feel it's now time to get back to business. Especially since I've not actually been lazing around doing nothing.

Giving it large on Total FM

You may have noticed my last blog post was on the subject of soul music and the start of my new venture as a radio presenter. Well, I'm now on show number twelve and enjoying every minute of it and I've also secured the Saturday afternoon sports show spot - busy lad!

Add to the above the fact I've managed to get bookings for DJ shows in and around the Javea area, it looks as though I've not quite escaped the hospitality trade yet. But did anyone ever think I would?

Another venture I've managed to secure is a go at teaching English as a second language at Lady Elizabeth (Primary) School in Benitaxell, about a fifteen minute drive from where I live. It's basically a Saturday morning job and do you know what? I'm really enjoying it. See, multi-talented after all.

Lynn hasn't been slouching around whilst I look for work. She volunteers in the library of the LES secondary school and house sits the school's boarding villa when the regular staff are away.
All of this frantic activity is allowing us both to network and get our faces seen in the area - vital for any ex-pat who is not yet ready to put their feet up and lay by the pool all day sipping a sangria.

Splashing about in the Med - on Halloween!

A lot of the time it's down to luck how you manage to get on out here, well, that's what I've found. A chance meeting at a Facebook networking night (and party!!) with one of the co-owners of the radio station got me to where I am today. They gave me the opportunity to MC the charity event for the Bomberos at Laguna Ribs during the summer then took me on as one of their presenters. ,

People regularly post on Facebook they are looking for a DJ for parties, events etc.  Because of the radio work I've been recommended and from getting confirmed bookings it's led to others - the "Jungle Telegraph" system works excellently around here.

Enjoying the giant paella in Jesus Pobre

Through a family connection at Lady Elizabeth School I found out they were forming a Saturday club to teach English. I applied, was interviewed and got the job.
As a result of hosting children at our house during the summer (Summer School) we made good contacts with the secondary school admin team which has given Lynn a foothold into hopefully future employment.

You do have to work at it as an ex-pat if you want to keep busy. A far cry of course from our previous ten years running the York Hotel and all the highs and lows associated with that. One overriding factor keeping us both going is waking up most mornings to sunshine filtering through the shutters.
Unbelievably, when my daughter, eldest granddaughter and aunt visited us in October we were out swimming in the Med - on Halloween, it was so hot. OK, I was in the water with my grandchildren and everyone else was sunbathing but still, at the end of October!

It's very obvious then we plan to be here a while. Time to learn the language?
We are fortunate to have a lovely lady in our village (introduced to us by our daughter) and she teaches a class in the village community centre on a Monday morning. Our Spanish is coming along slowly but surely as they say and it's much better having a native teacher putting you right rather than trying to work it out yourself from a book.

Strange how it's worked out. I teach children English on a Saturday and then attend Spanish lessons on a Monday. Method in my madness though - the kids help me out with some Spanish words!

Great November weather.

We have plenty of opportunities to practice the language. The local bars in the village are...well, very local. They wont go out of their way to speak English to you - why should they? One thing though, they appreciate it when you "have a go", plus they are more than happy to correct your pronunciation of words. We shun the pre-packed sections of meat and fish departments in supermarkets and are now more confident of approaching the butchers and fishmongers and improving our ordering skills.

So, Christmas is almost upon us but we haven't totally shunned the British way of life. Our tree is up and decorated and our most valuable decorations came with us in the packing boxes. It's not quite "chestnuts roasting round an open fire" but our calor-gas heater suffices for warmth. a major difference to the pre-Christmas hullabaloo can be found when out and about in town - it's just not there. Well, not in your face.

Don't get me wrong. The Spanish love Christmas, just not in the same in-your-face commercial way we have descended to in the UK. In fact its the ex-pats who are the most enthusiastic about the whole season. We have though arranged for us to host Christmas Lunch this year. Well, our eldest daughter and family are here, my son-in-laws mum and gran are here, my aunt is visiting from the UK - a proper family Christmas Day. We've had plenty of practice over the years.

The final upshot to our first six months here in Spain has been the friendliness of everyone; locals and ex-pats alike. The climate here has been described as one of the best in the world. Maybe that's the reason so many people are content with their lot in this beautiful part of the Costa Blanca. Now I'm more settled I'll get out a bit more myself and get to fully appreciate my new home.

Totally (Sunshine) Soul

What's your estimation of a good soul song? Would you say a Motown hit or maybe a Northern floor filler? Perhaps you like a bit of Modern, a Beat Ballard even Crossover. And what about today's soulful tunes - are they your cup of tea? 

Confused? You're in good company, I just can't place my finger on what genre of soul music I like, and so it seems do many others. One man's Northern is another's Motown is another's Modern. Maybe I'll just give all of them a whirl.

Well, come Thursday 29th September that's exactly what I will be doing as I host the Totally Soul Show on Total FM, the community radio station for Javea. Every week I'll be bringing you three hours of an eclectic mix of all things soul to ease you into your Thursday evening. (Showtime 5pm - 8pm) Click here. 

Growing up in The Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe it was easy to forge a liking for the soul genre; everywhere was playing it. My first exposure to it was in the youth clubs, the breeding ground for many a "would

be" DJ and definitely the place a young man could cut his teeth on the dance floor. Acts such as Donnie Elbert, The Supremes and The Drifters provided the soundtrack to my formative years. We listened to The Chi-Lites, Detroit Spinners and the O'Jays on the juke boxes in the coffee bars of the town. 

Usually skint, we would imagine being able to afford and moreover allowed by our parents to attend Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino, unimaginable sounds (we believed) would fill our senses in those venues. We did have a lifeline to more soul, though - Dixieland Showbar.

Part of the Winter Gardens complex, Dixies, as it was known, had a Monday soul night; big problem for me, obviously a school night. I pray for forgiveness to my parents for the white lies I spun to attend those Monday night extravaganzas. It's where I first heard R Dean Taylor's "Ghost in my house", and that immortal line "Where our love used to be"...CLAP CLAP..."only shadows can I see." DJ's have been turning the sound off to the claps for years. Audiences have fully obliged.

Another great soul memory for me was the fact I owned the Motown Chartbusters Vol 3 LP. Not only were the tracks epic Motown, the album cover was a concentric design of silver. Move It around in the light and the metallic shades changed hue - mesmerising.

All good things come to an end I guess. Well, if you call joining the army a bad thing. I went off for a year's Junior Leader training in September 1974, I don't even recall the term "northern soul"being part of our vocabulary. It was in fact, given the name by a London soul record dealer who separated the funkiest soul enjoyed in the south to the smoother up-tempo beats preferred by visiting Northern football fans. "Just show them to the northern soul" the owner would tell his staff and thus an expression was coined.Thank the Lord for those pioneering UK soul DJ's who went over to the States and emptied the record shops and warehouses of all the great sounds.

It wasn't until I left the army in 98 that I came back into the soul scene. I met up with a dear departed friend Sean O'Conner. We'd catch each other at Morecambe  football matches down south (where I was living), as footie and soul music sort of go together we had plenty to talk about.

Sean would compile CD mix sets of Northern, Motown and a genre I'd missed out on, all the years off scene - modern. On my journeys back to Morecambe he introduced me to a collective of local fanatics called the Seaside Soul Club, I'd even been at school with a couple of the lads - my reintroduction to soul music was now underway.

As a soul returnee one of my many regrets was not having a record collection. Travelling the world in the forces and years later in industry wasn't conducive to keeping a vinyl collection in good nick. It was digital for me, although I do own a mixer, speakers and decks I'm not prepared to pay the funny money today's dealers want for records. I couldn't afford them anyway!

There is a slight one-upmanship regarding the ownership of vinyl and one debate I'm not prepared to get dragged into. I know what I like and like what I know. As long as it gets out there clearly, it's good for me.

My own personal soul journey is still out there on the highway. I now have a broader knowledge of the different

sub-genres and am willing to listen to and accept new sounds that come along. As a presenter I won't instil my favourites on the listeners, but throw in a whole mix of stuff, heightening the senses to this timeless genre of music.

Come and join me on this journey every Thursday - you never know where it will take us.

Fundraiser surpasses expectations.

What began as an idea by Howard Westcott selling T-shirts to raise money for the Javea Bomberos turned into perhaps the biggest gathering of the ex-pat and local community for a long time last Sunday. (18th Sept) The fire and the terrible aftermath had touched most people who live in the Javea/Benitaxell area. It set in motion a plethora of impromptu events organised by local businesses, all with the same objective - to raise money for the Bomberos.

Mayor, Jose Chuvli

Fighting the fires had depleted their kit and equipment. It was imperative they had money to replenish: the rain was still a long way off coming. 

Thanks to social media (What would we do without Facebook?) a group of volunteers put themselves forward to organise a fundraiser and concert. Mick Ford of Laguna Ribs in Javea agreed to host the event, Howard got to work organising more T-shirts to sell, Ann Martin and Rhian Mulcrone badgered people for raffle and auction prizes (although many companies volunteered items); Lasse Eriksson rostered the acts for the concert.

Many more, including local Spanish people, volunteered their services.Truly the local community pulling in the same direction.  Even local radio station Total FM got in on the act. They offered to broadcast the whole event live from 4pm until midnight. Chris and Wendy Williams brought the studio to Laguna Ribs and yours truly was the genial host for the day.

The T-shirts make a great sunshade!

Come the hour the numbers attending shocked the organisers. Hundreds of people flocked through the gates all day to show their support for the brave fire fighters. The organising committee and the staff of Laguna Ribs were run off their feet selling raffle tickets, organising sound checks and band change over's, face painting and selling cakes; the bar and restaurant staff never stopped serving. I must give one charity a shout out. Make a Smile help deprived children in Javea. They brought along stuffed toys and teddy's to sell - all proceeds went straight into the fund.

Francis Abrams

The entertainment was as mixed and as varied as you could get. Pianist, entertainer and general good guy Ian Henry started off the entertainment in his own inevitable style and was followed by his vocalist wife Gill. She sang a range from Caro Emerald to full blown opera - amazing. Francis Abrams beguiled the crowds on the sax and with his soulful voice and Lola Smolokowski, a concert pianist, raised the roof with her finale from Carmen - a tribute to the Bomberos.

Jose Chulvi, the mayor of Javea arrived and Howard Westcott gave an emotional speech before handing over money to the Bomberos from T-shirt sales: pre-event. The Mayor replied with another emotional thanks to the Bomberos and the local community for pulling together. He also took the time to meet and chat with many in the crowd. The final word belonged to Alan Lawton, the local fire fighting commander. He thanked everyone for coming along and supporting them. He emphasised all the firefighters were volunteers, amazing when you think of their bravery and sheer focus on keeping lives and property safe. Afterwards he and his crew were

swamped by the crowds, all wanting photos with their heroes.

What followed was a rock concert as Dream in Blue, SZ Band, Why Not Rock, Happy Freuds, Niamh O'Sheelan and DC3 cranked up the volume and entertained the audience until midnight. Lasse and his road crew ensured the sounds were perfect and the link to Total FM was monitored and managed by it's station chief Chris Williams. My contribution? I provided the banter between acts and facilitated an auction contributing well over a thousand euros into the pot. Many thanks to all the generous people who bid.

Howard Westcott

Gill Hendry

The night was not over for some. Laguna Ribs had to be cleaned up, sound & lighting equipment had to be dismantled and the most important job - money had to be counted. Four Thousand Euros had already been handed over to the Bomberos from T-shirt sales. The money remaining was from the raffle and auctions.

Even the kids got involved in fundraising - cakes by Ann Martin

It took almost a week to count the money; in my own experience the final total can always be described as fluid. Individual businesses were still holding collection boxes and T Shirts. Some donations still had to come in as well as auction pledges. Ann Martin and Howard were in regular contact via a dedicated message group - the figure rose daily.

So, I'm sat writing this post on a late September Sunday morning, keeping an eye on the Facebook conversation between Ann and Howard. The final total is still slightly fluid but...it looks like the figure could be close to 15,000 Euros - outstanding! 

  

This figure is phenomenal considering the short time the organisers had to put it all together. It does however show the generosity of the local community and businesses. A fighting spirit the fires couldn't take away.

Bomberos commander - Alan Lawton

Picture credits - Rab Ronaldson

Mick's Top Tune 4

I've chosen this track not just because it's Archie Bell and the Drells. The video featuring the Three Stooges is priceless - lovely dancers as well. DANCING TO YOUR MUSIC.