Talk of the North > Previous Issues > Issue 1

Day of the Giants
Brummies in the Sun
Alcudia Petanca Winners
Singa Songa Soccer
Starry, Starry Night
The Rolls Rpoyce of Bubbles

Recipe - Sangria

For once, the Moors and Christians battle on the final day of the Pollensa “Festes de la Patrona” this year was outshone by another event. Looming way above the fighting was the grand parade of the giants on the previous Saturday.

Pollensa has not had giant effigies of its own for 90 years, but following the discovery of a 1930 fiesta programme in which two giant Pollensa figures were shown, the council commissioned a sculptor to recreate them.

Thus the old tradition was revived this year and to celebrate Pollensa invited giants from all over the island to greet the newcomers. Weighing in at more than 40 kilos and towering between 3.5 and 4 metres high, they came from Inca, Soller, Muro, Sa Pobla, Capdepera, Manacor and points further south. Twenty-three giants in all, including a “baby” who squirted water at the cheering crowd, danced there way through the town to the sound of the typical Mallorcan instruments; xeremiers (bagpipes), flutes and drums.

If you missed the giants this time, don’t worry, they are sure to parade in the next fiesta, this is one tradition Pollensa has vowed not to lose again.

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An ITV Central News team has been on Mallorca recently filming people from the Midlands who have made a new life in the sun. And amongst those interviewed was Talk of the North editor yours truly, Ann MacDonald (born in Great Barr, Birmingham several years ago!) and Gary Heeley of The Nag's Head bar in Puerto Pollensa.

Gary was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, which is just four miles north of Great Barr, and moved out to Mallorca three years ago with his wife and daughter.

Interviewer Tom Parminter and his team said they were enjoying their stay on the island and commented on how friendly everyone was – they also agreed that the north of the island was the best and prettiest part of Mallorca!

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Winners of Alcudia's annual Sant Jaime Festival Petanca Tournament this year were Pedro Fernandez, Peter Omand and Bob Johnston (pictured left to right below). The mixed teams of three players came from the English-Speaking Residents' Association's Northern district and the Alcudia Tercera Edad (pensioners' club), who meet regularly to play petanca on new rinks near to Hospital d'Alcudia. The trophies were presented by Maria Antonia Munar, President of the Mallorca Council, and Alcudia's mayor, Miguel Ferrer.

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Any budding composers out there have a unique opportunity for fame (if not fortune) as Pollensa Council's sports department is running a competition to write a song for the Pollensa Football Club.

The competition to provide the words and music for the football club is open to anyone resident in the Pollensa municipal area, and you have until October 15th to hand in your contribution. Something sporty and cheerful is wanted, and first prize is 1,200€.

The music can be for an orchestra (computer-aided sound permissable) but the words, of course, must be in Catalan. So, to start you off, how about trying a theme around "anem, anem, anem" -- that's "here we go, here we go, here we go"!

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Liverpudlian singer/song-writer Kathryn Williams (right) treated Mallorca with her angelic voice in a concert under the stars at the ‘Sant Francesc’ Cloisters in Muro recently. Her performance was the third of four concerts in the ‘Waiting for Waits’ festival - a tribute to multi-talented musician Tom Waits. Thirty-year-old Kathryn’s Spanish debut, accompanied by David Scott on guitar, was hailed a success as she captivated her audience with songs from her latest album, ‘Over Fly Over’ – a melodious mix of folk and rock music. Despite a busy schedule, she found time to chat with Talk of the North.

What brought you to Mallorca, Kathryn?
The Waiting for Waits festival!

And what were your first impressions of the island?
It’s really beautiful, the light is unique, all those mountains, and the city is so big!

Were you able to see much of the island during your stay? What did you do here?
We went to the north and swam and ate good food in a small quiet place, we went to Palma and walked round the old town, we went swimming off some rocks and we played guitar outside in the evening.

Do you have any plans to return to Spain?
Yes. I would love to play Spain again.

According to your tour itinerary, you have one more gig on this tour, then what?
I am going to France, and then I am going to mix my next record for next year in September, then it's touring again!

I know you are a huge Bob Dylan fan. Which is your favourite Dylan track?
I love Bob Dylan. I really like "Your gonna make me lonesome when you go" or anything off the Blood on the Tracks album. The good thing about Dylan is there are so many albums for different days.

Thank you for your time, Kathryn, and good luck with the new album
Thank you.

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by Johanna MacDonald

Reclining in the bubbles of a 7-seater spa aptly named, The Reward, with a glass of sparkling cava in my hand and stars twinkling away in the sky above - I had to pinch myself to confirm I wasn’t dreaming and try hard to switch into interview mode!

The spa in question is located on Richard and Jane Halverson’s back patio. The Halversons run Sovereign Spas & Pools in Puerto Pollensa and if you have passed by, you are sure to have seen their eye-catching window display, consisting of a bubbling spa and a number of colourful accessories, including a battery-operated rainbow reef fish and shark, and solar-powered magic globes.

Rich and Jane clearly take great pride in the prestigious Marquis spas, referring to them as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of hot tubs, as they recite a long list of the benefits of owning one. "The spas can be enjoyed all year round," said Jane. "You can adjust the temperature of the water to cool off in the summer and warm up in the winter; and they can be installed indoors or out, on terraces or balconies. The spa is an ideal form of relaxation and entertainment for all the family and makes a refreshing change to sitting in front of the TV, as it encourages people to relax and chat".

As well as the general feeling of well-being a session in the spa gives you, it has specific health benefits, too. The jets in Marquis spas are designed to give deep muscle massage from head to toe and provide relief for sufferers from arthritis, and they even help to reduce cellulite! "What’s more," adds Richard, "it is the most robust and energy efficient spa on the market and has the best automatic clean-up cycle".

As I looked at the electronic display panel, I noticed a button which changed the colour of the lights in the spa, turning the water all the colours of the rainbow. I opted for a vivid turquoise, as Jane told me that their newest model at the showroom was a silver spa, which played music! Rather than a spa with pop-up speakers which can easily get damaged, the whole of the shell of the spa acts as a speaker when connected to your stereo and the sound is contained within the water so that you don’t annoy the neighbours!

Sovereign Spas offer potential customers a free spa session and site survey, with no obligation to buy, and should you decide to treat yourself, you will receive an excellent complete service: from transportation, installation, even landscape gardening to make your spa look its best, to an after-sales service and a seven-year transferable guarantee on your spa. The company also deals in fibre-optic lighting to enhance the pool, terrace or garden, and sells a whole range of novelty toys and accessories, including fabulous spring floats - which are like lilos without the hassle, since inflating them takes a couple of puffs and they fold down into a shoulder bag.

Throughout the summer, Sovereign Spas & Pools are offering a free welcome pack of accessories worth 1,000€ with the purchase of any Marquis spa, so why not pop along and take a look?

In the meantime, it’s back to my glass of cava, a gentle foot massage … and a game of floating drafts! Ahhh … this is the life!

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Sangria was originally created in Spain with Rioja and other Spanish reds and has become a popular and refreshing party drink around the world. It derives its name from the Spanish word for blood - ‘sangre’- due to its deep red colour.

In the south of Spain, a white version of sangria exists, known as zurra, made with white wine and peach or nectarine, and in the cava-producing regions of Spain, a sparkling golden version of sangria -sangria de cava – is made. In fact, many bars and restaurants throughout Spain produce their own unique version of this popular Spanish summer punch.

Traditional sangria is typically created from red wine, fruit juices, sparkling water, fruit and sometimes brandy, but don't just buy it ready-made from the supermarket, have fun and create your own! The appeal of sangria is all about taking your favourite red wine, your favourite fruits, and experimenting with them. To get you started, why not base your sangria on this recipe.

Sangria
Ingredients:
1 bottle dry red wine
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbs. rum
the juice of one orange
1 orange, cut into thin slices
1 lemon, cut into thin slices
1 peach, cut into thin slices
1 stick cinnamon (optional)
1½ cups sparkling water
or sparkling grape juice,
chilled
Ice cubes for serving
Extra fruit for garnishing

Preparation:
Pour the wine into a large pitcher or a punch bowl. Add the sugar, rum and orange juice, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the orange, lemon, and peach slices and the cinnamon stick, if using. Chill the sangria for 8 hours, or overnight. Just before serving, add the sparkling water or grape juice and the ice cubes and garnish with the extra fruit.

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Contact
Ann MacDonald, C/Llevant 46, 2d, 07470 Puerto Pollensa.
Fax 971 864 163
E-mail: carduusann@yahoo.co.uk

Advertising & Editorial Office:
C/Llebeig s/n, bajos (near the square) Puerto Pollensa
Tel: 971 864 703
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