march, 2018, clubhouse newsletterx(1)a(swd87fub1...valentine's night - it's all about the...
TRANSCRIPT
O N L I N E N E W S L E T T E R
IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE - LADIES GOLF PAST CAPTAINS VALENTINE'S NIGHT - IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC SHOW - RHYTHMIC LINE DANCING
MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY - CLUBHOUSE FRIENDS, WILLIAM PRITCHARD & MARIA TANIA CURRENCY TRANSFERS - SPONSOR OF THE MONTH, INFINITY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLISHED BY THEOWNERS CLUBHOUSE S.L
EDITION 45
1st MARCH, 2018
Dear Fellow Owners,Welcome to the March edition of our popular newsletter, which as ever is bursting with news and photographs.
Owners cannot have failed to notice that the old wooden room divider has been replaced by a brand new glass curtain, which allows much more light to flood into the lounge bar. I understand change can be unsettling, but over time I hope everyone will come to like it.
Later this month the library will be closed for a much needed refurbishment. When finished this will provide more notice board space, improved storage for the likes of the art group and bridge players, plus better, brighter lighting.
Work on the Terrace Pavilion is nearing completion. Doors have been fitted, reverse air heating/air-con units have been installed and decorative roof lights will be fitted shortly. When finished the Terrace Pavilion will add useful and much needed additional, weather-proof space
The 8th February saw the Past Lady Golf Captains hold their annual lunch at the Clubhouse, which was throughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Wednesday, 14th February was Valentines Night at the Clubhouse and, after a splendid dinner, Owners danced to music provided by Jenna McNeil, who was fabulous as always.
The 24th February saw owners displaying their varied musical talents to a packed 140+ audience in the ?It?s All About The Music? themed night. As ever, Joaquin?s staff ensured the evening got off to a great start with welcome drinks, followed by an excellent dinner.
Monday, 5th March marks the start of 4 trial Rhythmic Line Dancing sessions, so please see the event notice board for times and details. This should be great fun, so please come along and join in.
Lastly, David Evans, from new sponsor Infinity International, will be holding an introductory seminar at 12.00pm on Wednesday, 21st March and will explain how Owners may save up to 5% on international money transfers. Well worth attending.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the Clubhouse AGM on Wednesday, 28th March at 11.00am.
With best wishes,
Stewart HarrisChairman, Owners Clubhouse
Five years ago, Frances Graham introduced a Past Lady Captains Trophy to La Manga Club. She based the idea on a popular annual competition played at her golf club in the UK, which endorses the selection of the incoming Vice-Captain.
Frances felt that there were enough Past Lady Captains living on the resort to make it worthwhile?. she was right. Over the last five years the competition has become increasingly popular and Past Lady Captains gather once a year to battle for the coveted trophy. To date it has been won by just two ladies, Linda Rodda and Lesley Martin having each won it twice.
The ladies planned to hold the competition on the 8th February, but it had to be rescheduled because of the freezing weather. However, this
didn't stop sixteen players indulging in a very enjoyable lunch at the Owners Clubhouse instead, at which they wholeheartedly supported Brenda O'Connor?s nomination for her new Vice-Captain, Marion Kessack.
Chef Jose Martinez Perez delighted the ladies with a wonderful selection of tapas, including two new dishes.
Chicken Satay Skewers, with the Chef?s own special peanut sauce were delightful, as was an interesting dessert of hot coffee, with a choice of liquor, poured over vanilla ice cream and served in a cocktail glass (the ladies debated the amount of alcohol required and decided on varying quantities!).
The staff in the Owners Clubhouse were, as always, extremely attentive and made the everyone feel special. The Ladies Golf Group is extremely proactive, regularly uses the Owners Clubhouse as their meeting point and would like to take this opportunity to offer thanks to all the staff.
The rescheduled tournament was held on the 1st March on the West Course. Six ladies competed for the trophy and Past Lady Captain, Linda Rodda, won the competition again with 34 points. Well done to Linda!
Current Lady Captain, Gabby Coates and future Lady Captain, Brenda O?Connor came to support the event, which was a generous gesture on their part.
PAST LADIES CAPTAINS TROPHY COMPETITION
The Owners Clubhouse was the place to be for a romantic candlelit Valentine?s Night dinner in a really beautiful setting. Some seventy Owners gathered for the evening and subsequently commented favourably on the themed table settings and flower displays.
The evening started with a pink Cava welcome drink and then diners sat down to a specially created five-course dinner, complemented by carefully selected wines.
.
Towards the end of dinner Jenna McNeil took to the stage and sang some appropriately romantic tracks. However, once dinner was over she upped the tempo and in true Clubhouse style the dance floor was soon full with Owners getting into the spirit of the evening ?? initially led by the ladies, but later, fortified with a little Dutch courage, the men followed.
Everyone agreed it was a great night.
VALENTINE'S NIGHT SUPPER WITH JENNA McNEIL
It is perhaps worth remembering that music themed evenings, such as Valentine?s Night, have only become a regular feature of Clubhouse life over the last few years. This mainly due to the efforts of the current committee, not to mention Gill Schofield, who puts in endless hours behind the scenes organising catering, performers, table decorations and the like.
VALENTINE'S NIGHT SUPPER WITH JENNA McNEIL
Owners taking to the stage has become a popular feature of the last few years, with many singing in public for the first time. Clearly this takes a leap of faith, real courage and lots of hard work. Owner-shows usually take the form of a musical review, with individual singers performing songs, under the tuition and direction of Mel Leatherbarrow.
Saturday, 24th February saw a return to the roots of Owner performer nights, in that the focus was 100% on the music, with five Owners singing a variety of standards and also a world famous international guest star appearing late in the show.
The evening attracted a record, sell-out audience of some 140+ owners. The resultant challenge, of accommodating a stage, piano, amplifiers, speakers, mixing equipment and lighting, made fitting in tables and seating something of a logistical nightmare. Even more so, because numbers and names on individual tables were changing right up to a few hours before the show. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.
The night started with a welcome drink and was followed by Joaquin and his staff serving a first-class dinner in an amazing ninety minutes, all the more remarkable given they had very little space to work in.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC SHOW
Shortly after 9.00pm the lights dimmed and it was show time. For the next three hours Owners were entertained by an eclectic mix of songs, which included Downtown, Say Something, Mama Mia, Moonflower, Suspicious Minds, Georgia On My Mind, The Air That I Breathe, The Wall, When I?m Back On My Feet Again, Hey Jude and Little Help From My Friends.
Based on Owner feedback, one of the highlights of the evening was Charlie Hunt?s outstanding opener of What Are You Waiting For, which he sang with a confidence way beyond his years. Other standout numbers were Dave Lee?s fantastic singing and guitar playing in his version of Road to Hell, the Chris Rea?s rock classic, and Mel Leatherbarrow, Pat Toye and Anne Marie Barth?s beautiful performance of Simon & Garfunkel?s Bridge Over Troubled Water, accompanied by
Saskia Bruin-Bottomley on piano.
Of course, no Clubhouse show is complete without an international star jetting in and taking to the stage, on this occasion to perform a unique, Spanish accented version of New York, New York. It brought the house down. So, start telling the news, Frank Sinatra is alive and well, living in Cartagena and working at the Owners Clubhouse!!!
Thanks again to Gill Schofield, Joaquin, his staff, Bridgette Field our photographer, the performers, and of course all the LMC Owners who supported the event.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC SHOW
RHYTHMIC LINE DANCING - STARTS 5th MARCH
F
Finca Torrecillas is a hidden eco retreat which nestles high in the mountains above Corvera and is a paradise for walkers, bird watchers, painters and a host of other back to nature eco pursuits. Led by Gill Schofield, a team of activity organisers from La Manga Club will be visiting the retreat to asses its suitability for LMC Owners. Look out for announcements later this month.
Organisers Jean Harrison and Mary Beer have had a great response regarding their initiative to reform the much loved LMC Christmas Singers. Any remaining Owners who wish to be considered, should contact Gill Schofield on + 34 639 426 475 or email her on > [email protected] before the end of March.
Gerard Manley has had a great response in relation to him holding Spanish lessons at the Owners Clubhouse. Currently there are sufficient numbers for two beginner classes and one intermediate class. Courses last six weeks. Again, contact Gill Schofield for details.
Try out sessions start on Monday, 5th March at 12.30pm in the Terrace Pavilion. There are more hour long sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, the 6th, 8th and 9th April. See the poster in this newsletter for more details, or contact Gill Schofield.
MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY
FRIDAY,20th APRILSIIMON WESTON - BOOK SIGNING
ECO HEAVEN 45 MINUTES AWAY FROM LA MANGA CLUB
LMC CHRISTMAS SINGERS
SPANISH LESSONS
RHYTHMIC LINE DANCING
How did you discover La Manga Club?
Maria - my business partner at the time, John Pagannuzzi, first came to the club in support of David Lloyd, who was taking over the tennis centre. We stayed with John in his villa and within a week had fallen for the LMC lifestyle and the weather. Realising this was our kind of place, we bought an apartment in Las Palmeras.
When did you become permanent residents?
William in 2002 and Maria 2008
William, seeing an investment opportunity, bought a good two bedroomed apartment in Bellaluz, which he owns to this day. He still talks fondly of his time living in Bellaluz.
A pattern begins to emerge, as William went on to tell us that he subsequently bought ?off plan? in Monte Verde, which was followed by buying a property in Las Brisas and finally moving to their current home in El Coto del Golf.
Will this be your final home?
William looked at Maria and somewhat coyly refused to give an answer!
What are your memories of the Owners Club?
They recalled the early days when the queue to
order a drink stretched twice around the bar on Scramble nights. Between us we tried to remember where we could sit to eat before the conservatory dining was added. We all remembered the narrow strip of gravel, which in those days passed for a garden!
Both William and Maria said how much they value the work done over the years by various Chairmen, agreeing with each other that it?s hugely different, the most recent changes being some of the best, especially the landscaping of the garden terrace.
Favourite food?
Maria loves the salmon, especially with a salad. William is a 100% salad man, and although loving our menu, would like to see a greater choice of salads, particularly a Mango and Avocado option.
Preferred wine?
Vino Sol of course, sunshine wine every time.
Favourite staff member?
No ?fits all? answer here, cheeky little Antonio and gentle Pedro win the vote! But, with the inevitable overrider ?they?re all like family to us?
Entertainment likes and dislikes?
Both William and Maria love the entertainment that the Committee arranges, especially the various music nights. Dave Lee is a particular favourite and they think he is an absolutely fabulous guitarist, plus a good singer to boot.
The Future?
They are excited and looking forward to the library being refurbished, as it is a facility they use regularly, particularly William who is a keen golfer.
Thank you William and Maria.
CLUBHOUSE FRIENDS WILLIAM PRITCHARD & MARIA TANIA
The one subject that seems to get all British expats talking is the current exchange rate and how the decision to leave the EU has devalued the pound. Once the decision was announced the pound tumbled and has stayed lower ever since. How we reminisce about the heady days of the receiving ?1.40, or even higher, for the £1.00 of sterling we were converting!
We are slowly acclimatising to the new lower rate, but the drop has certainly had a knock-on effect for those expats who derive their income in Sterling, be it a salary, a pension, or income from investments.
Obviously the lower pound also affects British expats looking to buy property in Europe. It has effectively added another 15-20% in Sterling terms to the cost of the purchase. However, one could argue that those selling and sending their funds back to the UK have adjusted the sale price to take into consideration this drop and how much Sterling their euros can now buy. Others may prefer to hold out hoping for a European buyer where the exchange rate doesn?t influence the price.
Unfortunately there is nothing that we can do to affect this current drop in the pound, other than to ensure that we shop around and obtain the best rate possible when trading currency. A specialist currency exchange company will normally offer better rates compared to a bank, as currency is their sole business activity and by trading in volume they can significantly cut their costs
Obtaining guidance on when may be the best time to
buy, or sell, can often save hundreds if not thousands of pounds. It is also important to ensure that funds are transferred quickly and securely, as is ensuring that a company offering any type of financial services meets the UK FCA regulatory standards and also holds the correct licences. Plus, that the staff representing them are well informed and trained to the highest standards.
There are many companies offering currency exchange services in Spain. However, the Owners Clubhouse is building a relationship with one in particular, namely Infinity International. Their local representative David Evans will be on hand to help Owners that need help with currency exchange, from setting up an account through to trading. David has a wealth of relevant experience having been involved for over 15 years in the financial services industry in Spain. Therefore, we are
pleased to announce that David and his colleagues will be holding a seminar during March where they will explain the process and how using their service will save you money. They look forward to meeting Owners and should anyone have any questions beforehand they may contact David using the details listed in the advertisement which follows this page.
INFORMATION EXCHANGE - CURRENCY TRANSFERS
INFINITY FX - SPONSOR OF THE MONTH
SPONSOR PARTNERS
SPONSOR PARTNERS
