On Friday 21st March the old la Marina hospital closed its doors in preparation for refurbishment. The new La Marina hospital at La Xara will operate all consultant and emergency appointments for the next few months. The new hospital is having a few teething problems and now that it will be working at full pace with full capacity they will have to get their act together.

Well it’s that time of year again when all in the Valencia province are out to show off all their splendour in the form of Fallas. This ends on Friday the 19th - also Father’s day – with the burning of the papier-mâché effigies. It is a time when local and national politicians are ridiculed in the Fallas, with their references to topical political themes.The bands march through the streets and townspeople dress up in their traditional” Festero” costumes and parade through the streets.

Sunday 8^th March the local athletic s club is organising a 3km event for women competitors only, in aid of cancer research. You can choose to walk, jog or run the course and even have a chat along the way! Entry is 3 euros per head which will be donated to cancer research. The proposed event will start at 11am from the athletics track next to Graull and Vicente Tena schools (if not sure check on our interactive map) and will run through the town streets. Registration and entry payment will be taken at the track from 10:30am – parking may be best in the Thursday market area. The weather forecast is for sun so it would be a great way to get some sun,exercise, and join in with the local Spanish community. See you there!

Demonstrators bearing wreaths, a "coffin" and placards mourning the death of Xàbia Old Town began their march near the Post Office and gathered outside the Town Hall to coincide with the monthly plenary Council meeting. A representative read a letter explaining that seven months ago the Council had approved a ten point plan including moving the Thursday market back to the Plaza de la Consitución and demolishing the so-called "city wall" on on the Principé de Asturias. Nothing had happened.

They also complained that new works undertaken through the State funded projects to counter the economic crisis were again affecting the Old Town as well as the Port and Arenal. One resident said: "we are not interested in politics or politicians, because they mean trouble and we want to live a quite life."