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OCI Radio operates from Altea in the Costa Blanca Spain. My wife, Pauline McGough is the presenter of “The Prime Time Show” that goes out week days from 10-12am.

Mon 29th Oct on the Prime Show Pauline McGough will be talking to Chris Wood all the way from South Africa. Chris is from Qdos Productions in London and at the moment is setting up Peter Pan at the Nelson Mandella Theatre in Johanasburg! Chris is also working in collaboration with Going Live Productions here on the Costa Blanca who are producing Proms at the Palace at Benidorm Palace on Sunday 18th Nov.

There are 2 shows, one at 4pm and one at 9pm. Get your tickets now with a special price reduction by calling 699 840 213 and mention you’ve seen it on the Spain-Holiday-Sun.com blog! Also mention that Malcolm Adams sent you, you may get a free drink!

This is my wife Pauline and me at a music gig in Moraira.

On Tues Prof Tony Rest is Pauline’s guest. Tony has been a science Professor at Southampton, is now retired and mixes science with travel!! Tune in to find out how.

Kathy Nomad has some interesting Halloween recipes for us after the 11 o/c BBC News.

More Spooks! Wed is Halloween and on Thurs 1st Nov another Spanish fiesta. Let’s face it the Spanish do know how to party - why else would we all be here!!
That doesn’t stop Irish Des and the Shamrock Express on Thurs tho’. The week rounds up with the News Review on Fri.

Des is a mate and he performs as a solo artiste and with the band called “Dark Horse”. Ivé played alongside he a few times and he comes (gig´s permiting) to the monthly jamming session in Emilios Bar in Llossa De Camacho, between Pedreguer and Alcalali, on the first Sunday of the month. But more about that in the next blog…
You can contact him on 966 471 875.

He is well worth watching and a great musician! From easy listening to Rock & Roll whatever your taste is in music, Des is your man! He works along the Costa Blanca in towns such as Javea, Moraira, Calpe, Denia, Altea. Cach him if you can!

Tell him that he was recomended by us, Pauline and Malcolm.

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Moraira is situated between Calpe and Javea on the Costa Blanca coast, Spain.

With it´s great beaches, restaurants and nightlife Moraira is a fantastic place to spend your holiday.

To see our range of Villas and Apartments please go to Holidays in Spain

We dont get much rain in Spain but when we do, especially in Gota Fria, we can get a lot.

The “Gota Fria” (cold rain to us) only comes now and then and the last time people remember rain like this was in 1998.

It washed away cars and bridges and the normal “dry river beds” we are use to became torrents.

Beniarbeig Bridge Collapsing!

We had as much rain in a day, on the 12th October, than we normally get in a year! Me and my wife woke up, got out of bed, and stepped in an inch of water. Thing is, we live in an old townhouse and the bedroom (which is on the ground floor) is higher that the rest of the ground floor. So, we had about 4 inches throughout the house.
We spent the next 4 hours bailing out and mopping up. Found out later, a blocked drain, in our courtyard, had caused the problem. A few darn leaves, washed down by the rain had given us so much work.

A friend of ours was cleaning up the mess left by the storm and a wall fell on him, breaking his leg and pinning him into a dip in the ground. He couldn´t move and water which was still trickling down from the hill, was filling up the hole he was in! The police had to walk 2km to the house, because the road was washed away, and managed to get him out and off to hospital.
I am glad to say he is OK! His wife tells us “life goes on” and he was in his wheel chair hoovering up the house. Things are now getting back to normal but there is still a lot of work to do in some of the less fortunate towns.

Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is promising cash handouts to young people in search of their first home. But rather than subsidise home buyers, he wants to encourage young people to rent a home rather than buy one. He proposes cash handouts to young people as a remedy to rising property prices and trying to revive a stagnant rent market.

Zapatero, known for liberal policies such as introducing gay marriages in a traditionally Catholic country, is no stranger to breaking with tradition. Spain is by far a country of homeowners rather than renters, and a red-hot market has seen house prices treble in the past decade, although the market is now cooling off. House ownership is a much-cherished value in Spain, where 80 per cent own their homes.
The ownership feeling was inculcated by General Franco’s right-wing dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s, as the way to follow for an “honest” family. Spain has one of the highest percentage of vacant properties in the European Union, with 15.5 per cent of all Spanish properties standing empty, compared to the EU average of five per cent. Approximately 3 million of Spain’s overall housing stock of 21 million properties are empty.

Spanish landowners are reluctant to put their property investments for rent, mainly due to laws protecting tenants. The property boom in Spain has also resulted in environmental havoc with 57 per cent of the Andalusian coastline and 80 per cent of Malaga’s coastline already built up with residential developments, marinas and hotels. Property investment absorbs 50 per cent of all Spain’s private investment thus penalising the growth of other sectors of the economy. The Spanish government now wants to help young workers pay their rent under a plan announced last month that aims to end Spain’s status as the slouch of Europe when it comes to emptying the family nest.

The handout , €210 a month for four years, is the latest in a series of spending packages unveiled by the Zapatero government as it starts unofficial campaigning for general elections expected in March of next year. The legislation also calls for a €600 loan for workers aged 22 to 30, to put down as deposits for rental housing and letting low-income people of any age deduct part of their rent from their income tax. To qualify for the handout and the loan, one must be aged between 22 and 30, be employed, earn no more than €22,000, and have been living in Spain for the past four years. Eight of 10 Spanish young workers stand to benefit from the measure. People of any age are eligible for the tax deduction if they earn no more than €24,000.

The tax break will cost the government an estimated €348 million a year in lost revenue. The aid to young renters will cost around €436 million in new spending. The Spanish government wants to encourage mobility in the labour market by getting more Spaniards to rent instead of buy.

The October fest is a week long party that anyone can attend. There are many attractions during the week ending on Sunday 14th October with the popular Biker Day.

Dont be put off if you are not a biker, all are welcome. I have been going for the last 3 years and it is great fun.

The Original Oktoberfestes began in München (munich) on 12. Oktober 1810 On this date, Crown Prince Ludwig, (later King Ludwig I of Bayern), and wife Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen started the whole custom. To commemorate their wedding, the Mayor(Burgermeister) and citizens of Munich brewed the special, now famous, beer ‘Theresienwiese’ which is still used.

From 4.-13.Oktober 2007 all beer and party lovers quench thirst with over 300 barrels of ‘Paulanerbier’ from Münich, and satisfy your hunger with tasty ‘Bratwürst sausage and pork steaks.
The event takes place in the 15,000 square meter party tent arranged by the CCC (Carnaval Club Calpe) in the “Partida Rafol” area of the twon where it is expected more than 20.000 people will visit during the week. 25 waiters15 cooks will provide food and drinks to everyone. There is a convenient car park nearby however a free bus service to and from the arena will be provided. The pick up point will be at the Plaza Central in Calpe.

Thursday, 04.10.2007

19:00 Opening of the ‘Beer Tent’

20:00 Grand opening by the President of the Carneval Club Calpe, Carlos Jahnke, and Mayor of Calpe Luis Serna. Followed by transfer of the crowns between last years Oktoberfest King & Queen. Dancing with the Party-Express to the ‘Original Steinsbergmusikanten’ band.

Friday 05.10.2007

From 18:00 Special Guest ‘Steffi’, starts off the weekend activities accompanied by ‘Steinsberger Party-Express’

Saturday 06.10.2007

From 18:00 Oldie Night mit Partymusik of the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s with Steinsberger Party-Express plays ‘endless’ music into the night.

Sunday 07.10.2007

11.00 - 14.00 ‘Early Uhr Frühschoppen withj’Livemusik’ band.
From 18:00 Uhr Oktoberfest continues with the best selection of traditional Deutschen Songs and music der 70/80/90er mit dem ‘Steinsberger Party-Express’.

Monday 08.10.2007

From 18:00 Wunschkonzert (with audience participation) mit den ‘’Steinsbergmusikanten’ band.

Tuesday 09.10.2007

11:00 to 14:00 Early (Lunchtime) mit Livemusik
From 18:00 Uhr Oktoberfes presentation Showtime „ABBA VOICES” mit Special Guest „Steffi” and the Steinsberger Brassband

Wednesday 10.10.2007

From 18:00 The Oktoberfest Party Non stop with the ‘Steinsbergmusikanten’ and Special Guest „Steffi”

Thursday 11.10.2007

From 18:00 Uhr Oktoberfeststimmung - Showtime Oldies but Goldies with the Steinsberger Party-Express

Friday 12.10.2007 Tourist Day !

11:00 to 15:00 ‘Early’ lunchtime party with the live music band “Calpe-Rock”
Free Beer from 12:30 to 14:30 and a huge Paella. ‘Surprise’ visit from the World Champion Olive stone remover from Cieza (Murcia)

From 18:00 Uhr Oktoberfest continues with the evening programme and Musik und „Rock´n Roll from the 60’s with the ‘Rocking Daddys’

Saturday 13.10. 2007

Oktoberfest Nonstop Final Party with the ‘Steinsbergern und Special Guest „Steffi”. Swaying, swinging, singing and dancing !!! A chance to buy tickets and win in the huge Oktoberfest tombola.

For reservations and more information call Sabine, daily from 01.10.2007 von 15:00-17:00 on the following number 630069399

Sunday 14.10.2007

From 11:00 also in the Party Tent will be the ‘Biker Party’ hosted by the Harley Davidson biker group ‘Cruzados’. The event begins with breakfast and then the massive round Calpe ‘Rideout’. Special edition bikes on displayand various side shows. All day rock concert to conclude the whole event.