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Summary of Activities

If you are looking for a church "home", we want you to know there's a place for you at The King's Church. We want to welcome you... Come and join with us in this journey to discover together God and the fullness of His message.

THE KING’S CHURCH , Avda. Pais Valencia, 98, 03720 Benissa , Costa Blanca

Tele: 665.278.801

e-mail: bisbejosep@yahoo.es http://www.thekingschurch.net

The Costa Blanca Mountain Friends is a small and friendly Mountain Club with activities in the Costa Blanca area of Spain, mainly Las Marinas. We have a membership of mixed nationalities who participate in our various mountain activities which take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. New members are welcome but a reasonable level of fitness is essential. See our web site for further details or contact Vic 966 472 089. www.costablancamountainfriends.com

ASN.   CARING TOGETHER

Active throughout Alicante Province

Fund raising for end-of-life care & support for their carers

PROMOTING PALLIATIVE CARE IN SPAIN - THE SORT OF CARE PROVIDED BY HOSPICES IN UK

(DESAROLLO DE CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS)

FAQs.   (Frequently asked questions).

1. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CHARGE FOR HELPING US WITH A PATIENT WHO IS DYING?

We will estimate, free of charge, what the weekly costs might be. Ask for  Home Care Needs Evaluation by calling 619 216 270.  

At the moment our services are limited to Alicante Province – but we hope to become a National service in due course.

AT PRESENT THERE IS NO HOSPICE, AS UNDERSTOOD BY THE BRITISH,  IN THIS AREA.    SOME HOSPITALS & RESIDENTIAL HOMES, HOWEVER,  PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES.

OUR MAIN EMPHASIS IS ON CARE IN THE PATIENT’S OWN HOME, WITH USE OF OTHER SERVICES SHOULD  THAT PROVE NECESSARY.

We see ourselves as working to ADD QUALITY to the end of life.

2.  WHAT IF WE can’t afford the services you recommend?    

Call  96 589 4240.   We may be able to help you find a solution.    That’s what we are here for.       

      CARING TOGETHER works within the framework of Spanish  Law,  which does not permit Euthanasia .  This subject remains under active debate in  many countries, including Spain :  we must follow the National law and custom.  So this service is not available through us at present.

     4.   DO YOU USE MORPHINE TO REDUCE SEVERE PAIN ?

     This is something a doctor (sometimes more than one doctor ) must decide.     The question is often how large a dose is permissible, for it is well known that morphine in high doses can shorten life as well as reduce pain.  

To know  the wishes of both the patient and the close carers can often help doctors.   Expressing their own views helps doctors to decide what they believe is the appropriate way to prescribe this type of medication.

So-called “morphine drivers” are available which deliver a measured dose automatically when the patient himself presses a button.   The doctor is able to pre-set the permitted dosage.    If a doctor were to ask Caring Together to supply such a machine,  we would do so if funds were available.

There are other forms of analgesia, not just morphine, that can work equally well.   In all cases each individual needs to be assessed for their type of pain so the best control can be found.   Syringe drivers are not always used as pain relief can often be found by a combination of oral drugs & patches which will help not just in reducing pain but also to Project against vomiting, muscular spasms etc. Some people feel 'hard done by' if they don't get morphine which is not always the best choice.  Expert advice is always needed.

Another thing that is important in considering prescription of painkillers is the relationship between patient and carer.   Will the patient be better cared for if able to rest tranquilly ?  Will the carer be relieved of stress as a result and thus be more caring ?   

Note that  doctors and nurses can get stressed up, too, when having to work with patients who are suffering agonies of pain. !

      5.   DO OUR DOCTORS FACE RESTRICTIONS IN THE USE OF OPIATES SUCH AS MORPHINE?

We have not heard of official restrictions but sometimes a doctor may be criticised by others, including fellow doctors.  Emails have come our way from doctors, complaining about hospital pharmacists who object to releasing the amount of morphine they wish to use !   Doctors experience enough stress  in attending their patients without having to put up with that – so it seems a good idea that TWO doctors should be involved,   each to support the other.     

If the patient is experiencing severe pain and agrees to the prescription of opiates then we are fully supportive of the joint decision of patient and doctor.

Bear in mind, though, that morphine may shorten life as well as giving relief from pain.    This “double effect” is a serious cause of controversy within the medical profession.   Some doctors duck the issue and refuse to prescribe opiates of any kind.    We believe that prescription of opiates is almost always justified if the object is to reduce suffering.   

      6.   WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR FUNDS ?

At present, most of our funds come from private sources & the generosity of businesses.

Donations often come in “out of the blue” . Holidaymakers put their small change in our huchas (collection boxes.   You’d be surprised how many 1c and 2c coins we have to count !       Various supporters not only run Rastro Stalls once or twice a week, but also organise major entertainments which sometimes bring in thousands of Euros.    

There are legacies “in the pipeline”, too.  We thank people who remember us in their Wills, and wish them many years before their kindness comes into play!    Sometimes those who have lost a loved one whom we have been helping arrange for a collection at the  funeral and donate the proceeds to help us help other patients.     Many friends could, if they realise it, use their Spanish income tax form to make a donation which years ago went exclusively to the Church!    

What we hope for (dream of) is to attract the goodwill of large Foundations and of Regional Government.    We want to convince them that our work is of general social benefit.   

Fundraising might be much easier if we felt the time was right  to be buying land and building Hospices – but National policy is not pointing that way.  Instead it favours the creation of hospital-based palliative care units, which do similar work.   Already we are co-operating with such units.    Those that do exist have too much to do and we hope they find our support encouraging.  

     7.    HOW LONG ARE YOU PREPARED TO WORK WITH A PARTICULAR PATIENT – FOR  SOME NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS  LIMIT THEMSELVES TO MAKING A ONE-OFF GRANT ?

As long as we have funds available and suitably qualified staff we’ll not leave anyone high and dry !  

Actually one of our big concerns is that many carers tell us they wish they had approached us sooner.   Too often a distraught carer phones us when things are running out of control.   When this happens we may perhaps be helping  the patient & carer for only a few days or weeks.   We think we could be of greater service to the community if people would approach us at an earlier stage.       

      8.   WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF AN IDEAL PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM?

Our answer is cribbed from the Ministry of Health in Madrid .    The team should consist of two doctors, one graduate nurse (who can train the family helpers in best ways of caring) one or more auxiliary carers (with the appropriate diplomas) along with a qualified social worker and a psychologist,   whose job, I suppose, would be to monitor symptoms of stress in all concerned, including the professionals) and keep everybody sane !

      9.   HAVE YOU ANY SUCH TEAMS?   DO THEY SPEAK ENGLISH?

We do NOT, unfortunately, have any such teams as yet.    Imagine the combined salaries of such a team !

What we do have is a contract with the Care Agency MOSAIC, which has district coordinators up and down the Province of Alicante .     These coordinators, with their detailed knowledge of what is available in their own areas, are able to bring in services agencies as necessary.   Each district is headed by a qualified and experienced nurse who is usually bi-lingual.    

It is a prime concern is that these leaders are effective in Castillian Spanish because of the need to communicate  with other public and private healthcare providers.  This is the only way to secure the best possible attention for each patient.     We know that there is a large English community which lacks language skills – but there are very many other languages spoken here, too.    The only common language is Spanish!    

      10.   HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE  of CARING TOGETHER ?

We see ourselves as working towards quick & flexible response to needs expressed by people who are approaching the end of life and their carers. 

Whenever there is doubt about ability to pay we will continue, when we can, to put compassion before cost – for detailed financial assessments can be very distressing when there is little left of someone’s life !   

We are in favour of current public policy on end-of-life care and will do all we can to encourage the spending of public money (taxes) on such services so that we shall be able to spend more private money (donations etc) when those needing help are not eligible to receive help from the public service.    

We will continue to do all we can to improve the image of Palliative Care (cuidados paliativos) as an honoured part of the medical & nursing professions.

      11.   SO WHAT STAGE HAVE YOU REACHED?

    Our reputation is growing patient by patient.

After the sad event,  people talk, word gets round.    At the moment we are maybe like a foetus, kicking gently.   Before long we hope to be a lusty infant.  We hope,  for the common good, that our voice will be heard increasingly, throughout Spain & worldwide.

Asn. Caring Together, Apartado de Correos 267, Villajoyosa 03570. C.I.F. G-53118576.     R.P.A. 5377,

TELÉFONO  DE AYUDA:  691 216 270.                       INFORMACIÓN : 965 89 4240

www.caringspain.com                   Info@caringspain.com                                                                                                                                  

The Club For Cross-Stitch Enthusiasts

 PUNTOS is a postal cross-stitch club with over 50 members to date and celebrates its second anniversary this May.  It started in a modest way with mainly Spanish members living in different parts of Spain and Europe.  However, one day a Portuguese member asked if she could receive the newsletter, which is published every two months, in English, as she is more fluent in this language than Spanish.  After a while an advertisement was put in the English speaking newspapers along the Mediterranean and so the club became bi-lingual.  Now the membership is comprised 50/50 Spanish and English speaking members.

Apart from the newsletter, which contains topics of interest, tips, biographies of members and member’s requests, members are also able to obtain threads, charts and material through the club at very advantageous prices, which are ordered over the Internet

The club is run by Angela Oliver who is English and who retired to Spain 12 years ago with her husband.  Apart from cross-stitch, her other hobbies are the computer and Internet, reading, gardening and walking the dog.  If anyone is interested in the club, they are able to obtain more information from the following addresses.

Parque De Los CarrionesDe Pozo Estrecho,

 30594 Pozo Estrecho,  Cartagena,  Murcia

968 166 384     angelapuntos@hotmail.com

Costa Blanca group of the World Ship Society Ltd.

The Costa Blanca Branch of the World Ship Society covers a large area of the Costa Blanca. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 6p.m. to 9p.m. in Hoggies Bar in Urbanisation San Luis in Torrevieja.   For more information contact Jim Stevens on 966765166 or e-mail Jim on

Jim2stevens@yahoo.co.uk

If you are an ex seafarer or just a lover of ships and the sea why not come and meet us.

You may also wish to look at www.worldshipsociety.org

This Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month above The Dolls House Shop in Jalon.  We make miniatures and have demonstrations, workshops, and outings. We also do projects, in the past we have made a complete Victorian Strret, a London Musical stage and a Spanish village! We also have a raffle and social events.   Come along if you are interested in Dolls Houses or miniatures. You can come as a guest and see if you enjoy the club.  You will meet other miniature enthusiasts.  For more information please e mail club@dollshouseshopspain.com or telephone the Secretary on 96 6481117.

Club Bádminton Teulada was formed almost 2 years ago.  The club has 60 members and trains twice a week on Tuesday and Fridays from 1930-2100 H.  The club is
federated and therefore participates in the federation tournaments provincially.  The club also has social events and club tournaments throughout the year.  Club secretary is Carol Saunders who can be reached on 629631280

The Torrevieja Barbershop Harmonisers is a men's chorus and enjoys in four part harmony. We meet every Tuesday at 10 am to 1 pm at Restaurante Los Arcos (Avda. Baleares) and we will perform at the Marina Bar (C./de las Rosas, Torreta II, behind the Policia Departamento) every Tuesday at 8 pm.  New members are very welcome. For further info please ring Dudley Jones 965 416 494 or Eberhard Frieg 966 773 145 and efrieg@wanadoo.es

If one day, while walking on a beach, you have gazed at the sea and have thought 'I would be very curious to know what it hides', then you certainly belong to the scuba diving generation.

To cross the sandy border, one does not necessarily need to bear 'James' as a first name, be a strong connoisseur of expensive Champagne and drive an Aston Martin DB5. Our oldest buddy, a man in his mid-seventies, can testify that to be reasonably fit and have good health is sufficient.

If you are to stay in the Torrevieja area only for a short time, your best option is a shallow introductory dive accompanied by one of our Instructors. After a short training session in our pool, you will safely make your first air bubbles among the octopus and other harmless marine creatures of the warm and clear waters of Cabo de Palos.

The people who are ready to dedicate a few days to a full course can obtain a world wide recognized certification, their passport for the blue realm. We always do our best to offer our clients, either holiday-makers or working residents, a schedule that suits their needs.

Contact Scuba Tribe and we will help you to make these few steps that can add a bit of spice to your life and satisfy your curiosity for the last secret territories of the Blue Planet ! (If you work at her Majesty's Service you are very welcome, we will not tell anyone...)                                   J-Philip Dubois-Perrin (Manager)      www.scubatribe.com

We meet on Friday afternoons at the Olympia Restaurant in Mil Palmeras, Pilar de la Horadada at 2.30 p.m.

We have two or three guest speakers talking about topics of interest to residents and newcomers to the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida, a regular gardening feature, weekly raffle, book-swapping corner and information table.

After a social break there is an easy-to-follow Spanish class taught by Jane Cronin of Cronin Language Services.  We also have a programme of social events.  Entrance 1 euro per person.

For more information please phone: Joan on 966 774 238, Jane on 968 18 32 58 or visit:

www.croninlanguages.com

TORREVIEJA GOLF SOCIETY & Vega Baja Premier Golf League     

Torrevieja Golf Society was formed by a small group of golfing enthusiasts in 1991 and from those early days it has continued to grown and has an active membership of over 250.

We also pride ourselves in the fact we encourage lady golfers and already have quite a few active husband a wife members

Although not all of them reside here in Torrevieja, there are still those that go back to their home country in the summer.

We normally play at Real Campoamor on the first Monday in the Month where we reserve, one year in advance 20 tee times per month to accommodate up to 80 players. The competition we play on this day is normally Stableford. This year 2004, due to the reconstruction work we are playing at Alicante Golf and Altorreal;

On the  3^rd Monday, we play at a course named Alenda, which is close to Elche. There we play different competitions such as hidden partners, Texas Scramble, sixes, and other team games.

On the fourth Wednesday in the month we play at Alicante Golf San Juan which is near Alicante, we are now looking at increasing our games to four times a month and taking in Altorreal Murcia, on a regular basis

For the months of May, June, July and August we organise special away days, where the Society arranges for an autobus to take members to courses in Valencia, Mojacar and Almeria, we have been to courses that are a little bit special and where we want to play but too expensive normally if played singularly.

The courses that we have played as a society are; La Manga, El Saler,(recent venue for the Seve Trophy), El Bosque (Valencia), Oliva Nova, Valle del Este, Desert Springs & Marina Golf (Mojacar).

The special “Away Day” competitions this year were, in May Pinaillas Alabacete, in June El Saler and in August, Oliva Nova and then to Bonalba for a special sponsored competition by The Costa Blanca News. 

The committee are always looking for new venues to provide its members with the best opportunities to play courses they would not normally play and at economical prices.

The away days usually start with coffee and cakes on arrival, golf and a three-course meal, the journey is by coach which entertainments is provided in the form of golf videos out and comedy back.

As with a golf club we have social events such as Charity Days, and Captains Day. With supporting Dinner Dances.

We are also represented in the Vega Baja Premier Golf League which runs from September through to May each year.

Our handicaps are in line with the Spanish Federation and are adjusted at all qualifying events.

The annual membership is currently 12 € and should you wish to join then details are available at any of the competitions.

Or contact The Secretary by phone, fax, or email can secure a place in any of our competitions. Application forms for membership are available at any of our events.

Ivie Davies

Secretary - TORREVIEJA GOLF SOCIETY & Vega Baja Premier Golf League                                        

Tel/Fax: 00 34 966 786 685

Mobile: 00 34 619 672 498

 Nosmo-King Club

La Zenia Toastmasters

Would you like to increase your self-confidence and improve your communication skills?  If the answer is yes then perhaps La Zenia Toastmasters is just what you are looking for.  

We meet every first and third Saturday morning of the month in the area of La Zenia, Orihuela Costa.  In our meetings we learn together by giving and evaluating short presentations in a friendly atmosphere.

We are part of Toastmasters International which is an organisation of seventy years standing with over 9,300 clubs and more than 195,000 members in approximately 80 countries.

Join us and improve your English communication skills in our diverse group with people from Ireland, United States, England and Spain...

For more information please contact:  Eamon O Gara :  667-423-592

Email:             TMLaZenia@groups.msn.com  or visit:       http://groups.msn.com/TMLaZenia      www.toastmasters.org