Repairs underway |
It’s
good to be able to start with some positive news this month.
As in other areas of
Nerja, petty vandalism is a problem along the paseo with large
numbers of damaged walls and paving slabs as a result. In some
cases, steel re-enforcing rods have been left exposed creating a
hazard, particularly to playing children. The benches have been
another target for the vandals, especially on the steps leading
from the waterfall.
So, as part of Councillor Jonathan Mendez’ on-going programme to
tidy up Burriana, town hall workers began the task of making
repairs in the middle of April. These will complement the recent
beach make-over and will, we hope, remain untouched by those who
appear to revel in anti-social activities. |
After four successful years, Sandy and Marc at
All That Jazz
are
moving on.
They have used the
time to build up a thriving business which, we are delighted to
report, is being handed on to one of their own staff. Mark Ketcher
(pictured right) has worked with them since All That Jazz opened
and formally takes over the reins on May 6. Apart from closing
briefly for a quick lick of paint, Mark doesn’t plan any immediate
changes to a winning formula and is looking forward to his first
summer as owner.
|
Sister Bernie and her
husband Steve, birthday girl Denise (seated)
with partner Tom and
Bernie’s daughter Erin Kate,
plus Marc and Sandy. |
Sunday roasts will make a welcome return during May and Mark
is planning a welcome party, once his take-over trauma has
subsided! We wish him all the best for a long and happy tenure
on Burriana.
One of Sandy and
Marc’s last duties during April was to organise a surprise
birthday party for Denise Nolan. Denise was making a return
visit to Nerja with partner Tom after giving two concerts at
the Cultural Centre last year so the boys decided to make her
birthday extra special.
An additional
surprise was the unannounced appearance of sister Bernie, so
reuniting two of the Nolan Sisters who took the opportunity to
prove they can still belt ‘em out! |
|
Mark is the new
owner of All That Jazz |
 |
Life seems full of
farewells at the moment, because we have also said goodbye to
Kirsty who has been working at
Bar Blue Med for the last few
months.
A “dress-posh”
party was held at the bar to give her a great send off back to
Liverpool where she is to train as a veterinary nurse. However,
she will soon be back, albeit briefly, to ride a horse in the San
Isidro procession on May 15. She is pictured left during the party
with her aunt, Gill, from
Woolleys Bitter and Twisted.
Along with Mick and
Tony, Gill has asked us to pass on good luck wishes to their
colleagues along the paseo for the coming season, as well as their
thanks to everyone who has supported Bitter and Twisted during the
quieter winter months. |
However, we can testify
that most Sunday afternoons have been anything but tranquil, thanks to
those enjoying the excellent roast lunches and those cheering on the
televised soccer matches. Gill hates turning people away, so it is a
very sensible idea to ring on (+34) 95 252 3683 and book a table. But don’t
ask for her secret gravy recipe because she won’t give it to you…
| Meanwhile, the new
hosts at
Bar Blue Med have now settled in and are offering
continental breakfasts from 9.30am. Anne and Stewart (pictured
right with son Thomas) have croissants, toast, pastries,
bocadillos and preserves on offer, along with tea, coffee and
fruit juices.
Stewart’s wealth of
experience in the catering industry in the UK means that the
established menu of wraps, paninis and sandwiches continues.
Victoria lager is now available in addition to the popular
Estrella Damm and Strongbow cider is also on tap. The first of a
series of quiz nights was held at the end of April and these are
set to continue on the last Friday evening of each month.
We’re welcoming a
newcomer to the area this month. Sian Mills has opened her beauty
salon at her home in Calle Vélez-Málaga, only a couple of minutes’
walk from Burriana’s paseo. Wittily named
Beauty and The Beach,
it’s where Sian, originally from Kent, offers a range of services
including Hollywood and Brazilian waxes, as well as hot stone and
Indian head massages to ensure her clients leave feeling relaxed
and, of course, thoroughly pampered.
Sian gained her
BTEC National Diploma in 2000 and says she’s always furthering her
qualifications with specialist training courses. She comes to
Nerja after five years spent working in a five-star hotel and
prestigious salons in London, as well as running her own tanning
and beauty business in Surrey. There’s 25 per cent off your first
treatment, valid until June 1, so call Sian on (+34) 645 357 330
for an appointment. |
 |
It doesn’t seem possible but it’s three years this month since Matt
and Simon took over at
H2O.
 |
In that
time, they have continued to expand the business and now stock ten
different brands of champagne, including perennial favourites like
Lanson and Bollinger. After sampling all of them - strictly for
business reasons you understand - Simon says his personal choice
would be the Laurent Perrier Rosé, although many of the Spanish
cavas provide an excellent bubbly alternative.
A recent new facility at H2O
is the keyboard and screen at the end of the bar (left), specially
installed for customers who can’t take advantage of the wifi
Internet service because they don’t have their own laptops with
them. |
| Last month,
Haveli
Playa played host to a group of students as part of their studies
of the Indian continent.
The Year Five group
from the International School in Almuñécar were treated to
complementary tapas, courtesy of Amit and Eva, with mixed
reactions! Many of the Spanish pupils in particular had
never tried spicy foods before and were quite surprised by the
variety of flavours.
All the tastes the
children experienced during their lunchtime visit are available as
part of the restaurant’s all-day buffet which offers a huge
selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies from all
over India. |
Eva and Amit with
three of the pupils |
|
Fluff's family
in the Café del Mar |
Those who have
known Nerja for a few years will certainly remember Fluff who
entertained us all in the much-missed Maxim’s bar for many years.
Everyone who knew Fluff or had simply enjoyed his act were
saddened when news of his death came through from the UK in
November, 2003, but it’s good to know his memory lives on.
Members of his
family, led by partner John, met up in the
Café del Mar on April
16 (pictured left), which would have been Fluff’s 67th birthday.
Anecdotes were recounted and memories revived of some very happy
and funny times. |
Café del Mar will open as
normal throughout May, although the staff will be taking an extra day
off on the 15th to join in the local San Isidro celebrations. Rumours
that Richard and John will be dressing in polka dots to make their way
to the caves on board an ox-cart have been strenuously denied by the
management.
| And finally,
rumours abounded along the paseo in early April that a six euro
congestion charge was to be levied on all vehicles arriving on the
beach. Councillors, it was said, had travelled to the UK to study
projects which alleviated traffic congestion and had decided on
this course of action for the whole of Nerja, with phase one to be
introduced on Burriana beach.
One employee, who
will remain anonymous, complained to us that it would turn
visitors away and create greater chaos when they drove down to the
beach when they discovered that it was too expensive to stay. To
say he was irate is an under-statement. |
 |
The story was traced to a local website which had indeed published the
tale of the imminent charges. The problem was that nobody had noticed
that it had appeared on April 1 …
BEACHCOMBER
|
