ICS Newsletter – Oct 31
Hello Everybody!
Quiz Day – A Three-Way Tie!
The quiz hosted by Espen Gade at the hotel last Wednesday was a great success, with nine teams taking part and €36 raised for Save the Children Spain. (We ask for a nominal contribution of €1 per player, so every little helps! 
)
The quiz ended in a three-way tie, with a rather surprising tiebreak question: how many lakes are there in Sweden? The closest guess was 30,000. The actual figure? A staggering 270,000! That’s an awful lot of water! 
Interestingly, the winning team was the only one with just three players: Mark Burnham, Lisa Livesey and David Horsman! Congratulations! Very worthy prize winners. 
On Your Bike! The Tropical Fruit Route
Our 22 km cycle ride along the Tropical Fruit Route around Salobreña on Thursday was thoroughly enjoyable. I haven’t been on a proper bike ride since I was a teenager, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I loved every minute of it. And so did the group.
There were eleven of us in total: seven on electric bikes and four relying on good old-fashioned pedal power. There’s just one particularly challenging uphill “killer” section, north of Lobres, which could certainly get the heart pumping! 
Apart from that, the route is perfectly manageable on a conventional bike.
We’ll definitely be doing it again. Highly recommended! 
*** PLEASE NOTE THE WALK SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK ONE WEEK TO NOV 12***
The Costa Connection – The ICS Takes to the Airwaves!
Our first English-language ICS radio programme, The Costa Connection, will be broadcast on Tuesday from 8–9 pm on Radio Salobreña 107.1 FM. The first edition has been prerecorded and features club news, along with interviews, two of which are by our members.
I’ll be chatting to Linda Rane, manager of the EcoRastro market; George Chaney about the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Day appeal; and Marta Sánchez, owner of La Academia language training school.
A special thank you to member Charo Bermudo, who is recording a Spanish-language interview for the station to help promote both the ICS and the new programme.
The show will also be available online through the Radio Salobreña website, and I hope to upload it to our own website as well, so nobody has to worry about missing it.
I have to say, I’m discovering that a lot of our members have a story to tell. I have 20 interesting interviews lined up, many of which are from our members!
The first programme may not be perfect, but it’s a start – and I promise you they’ll get better! In the meantime, I hope you’ll tune in and give us a listen! 
Spanish Conversation – Virginia on a Break!
Our Spanish conversation session next Wednesday will be without Virginia Tapia, who is off on her travels. However, Virginia would very much like the group to meet as usual and continue practising their Spanish, chatting among themselves about a selection of topics.
So, don’t let her absence put you off! Join the gang at the hotel at 10 am for a friendly chat and a bit of Spanish practice. All are welcome! ¡Bienvenidos!
Member News – Author Barbara Lamplugh
Our member Barbara Lamplugh, an established author, has an upcoming book event on Saturday 14 November at 7 pm at La Librería Fenicia in Almuñécar.
Barbara will be presenting and discussing her book El Gen Rojo in Spanish, and the Spanish edition will be available to buy at the event.
For those who prefer to read in English, Barbara also has copies of the original English edition, The Red Gene. These are available from the 1616 bookshop in Salobreña or directly from Barbara.
For further information or to contact Barbara:
blamplugh@hotmail.com
You can read more about the book here:
https://www.goodreads.com/en/
Guest Visit – GP Catherine Shuttleworth
In November (date to be confirmed), we’ll be welcoming Dr Catherine Shuttleworth, a British GP living in Spain, for an informal chat in the hotel foyer.
Catherine still works remotely for the British NHS and also provides support to foreigners living in Spain who need help navigating the Spanish healthcare system.
This can involve accompanying people to medical appointments, helping with translation, ensuring their wishes and decisions are understood, and generally making what can sometimes be a rather confusing process a little easier.
She also helps people prepare and register advance healthcare directives (Voluntad Anticipada de Atención Médica), ensuring their wishes are recorded should they become seriously ill and unable to make decisions for themselves.
It should be an interesting and useful opportunity to hear from someone who understands both the British and Spanish healthcare systems. Do come along with your questions!
Trip Updates – A Few Places Still Available!
Our trips organiser Bea Engwall has three more outings coming up, but places are filling up. Here is the latest availability:
1. Rute – A Festive Food Adventure
Wednesday 18 November 2026
15 tickets remaining
Cost: €22 for ICS members | €27 for non-member guests
Discover the delights of Rute on this festive food adventure.
Full details and booking:
https://www.icsalobrena.com/
2. Málaga Lights – A Magical Holiday Evening!
Thursday 10 December 2026
25 tickets remaining
Cost: €12 for ICS members | €17 for non-member guests
Get into the festive spirit with a visit to Málaga and its famous Christmas lights!
Full details and booking:
https://www.icsalobrena.com/
3. Meliá Sierra Nevada – A Winter Lunch
Wednesday 16 December 2026
39 tickets remaining (out of 110)
Cost: €50 for ICS members | €55 for non-member guests
Enjoy a winter outing and a special lunch in the beautiful Sierra Nevada setting.
Full details and booking:
https://www.icsalobrena.com/
Next Wednesday at the Hotel
As usual, we’ll have our Book Swap and Badge Prize Draw.
And, following a request to bring back the card games, if anyone would like to play Whist again, please drop me a line. It would be lovely to get a game going!
Welcome to Our New Members!
A very warm ICS welcome to our newest members:
- Heather Toms
- David Toms
- Etelvina Castillo Martinez
- Eulogio Arias Cambero
We hope you’ll enjoy being part of the club and look forward to seeing you again at our Wednesday gatherings and other events.
It would be really appreciated if members can help out by making new and potential members feel welcome when they come to the hotel.
Hotel Salobreña Suites – Important Updates
A couple of changes to be aware of:
- No more dogs: Unfortunately, the hotel will no longer be accepting dogs on the premises.
- January closure: The hotel will be closed from 3–17 January for maintenance.
Thank you for your understanding.
Halloween Celebration – A Change of Plans
Our Halloween event, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed by one day following the announcement of three days of mourning for the victims of the recent horrific train crash.
A terribly sad event, and our thoughts are with all those affected and their families.
We’ll bring you a full report and some photos in the next newsletter.
Petanca Champion – A Rather Convenient Victory!
The new Petanca Champion for October has been crowned, and, somewhat surprisingly, it’s none other than yours truly!
Fix! I hear you shout. Well, I can assure you everything was above board… probably.
I’ll be presenting the trophy to myself sometime soon. Modesty prevents me from saying too much, but I can already taste that free pizza! 
The group held a minute’s silence for the victims of the train crash.
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER
MAH JONG – RED DRAGON GROUP
Hotel Miba – 11:00 am
Please arrive early.
Contact: Paul and Sharon Craddock
CHESS
Bar Amigos, Av. Federico García Lorca – 6:00 pm
Contact: Daniel at Bar Amigos UKULELE STRUMBLIES
Bar Amigos – 4:00–5:30 pm
Come along to play or sing!
Contact: Mark Clifton
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TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER
ART GROUP
Hotel Salobreña Suites – 11:00 am
Halloween workshop – See above
Contact: Lesley O’Brien BACKGAMMON & CHESS
Hotel Salobreña Suites – 11:00 am
Contact: Andy Cross
DARTS
Los Patos en El Parque – 2:00 pm
Contact: George Chaney
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WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER
ICS WEEKLY MEET
Hotel Salobreña Suites – 11:00 am–1:00 pm
BOOK SWAP & BADGE PRIZE DRAW SPANISH CONVERSATION Starts at 10:00 am.
Please wear your badges!
If anyone needs or can offer a lift, please use the ICS Members Facebook Group.
Contact: David Moran
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FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER PÉTANCAS
Parque Fuente, Salobreña
Please arrive by 10:15 am!
Balls are available. Drinks at Los Patos afterwards.
Contact: George Chaney
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STAY CONNECTED – GET INVOLVED!
ICS Facebook Members Group
https://www.facebook.com/
ICS Official Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/
ICS YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@
Please subscribe, follow and help spread the word!
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Have a glorious week, one and all.
Regards,
David Moran
ICS President
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