JUNE'S UPDATE ON LA VEREDA DE SUCINA

To save posting replies on various threads I have started one of my own.

As far as I know I am the only permanent resident here (since 11 June 2009). Work has continued during the holiday period of August BUT there are MAJOR problems with lifts. I stay in Bloque J flat B 1st floor, and use J lift and lift in K to reach my storage and my car. The lift in K has been out of action for 3 weeks. J has been working intermittently since June but I keep complaining as I have mobility problems and have difficulty going down stairs.

We will be on builders water and electricity till the whole building is complete (?Dec) and passes its inspection. The 150 euros we paid is the charge for the future connection for each flat to water and electric companies. I was not told it was towards the cost of using his electricity.

I have been told it will be 2 years until we can get a landline phone. Some of us have bought Spanish freeview boxes and when there is a recent film or tv programme originally in English you can change audio to English. Lots of decent films and American tv series on freeview along with English Premier games live on Sats & Sundays and a dedicated sports channel. I've been following Andy Murray's games in Montreal and now him at US Open on this channel. Other Spanish channels have lots of live sport too.

I know of one couple who have installed Torresat tv (aerial on roof) and get 72 channels plus radio in English. This is a re-broadcast system of UK Freeview with other channels added to the package and costs 20euros a month plus an installation fee. I will keep you posted if I hear of any other similar TV packages. I am going to try the same installer to give me broadband and ? free ? phone calls, I think.

Finally, I have heard one or two worrying rumours which I cannot get verified. I was told an Investment company bought 32 flats and have not yet completed and if they don't complete the builder may be in some financial difficulties. I have also heard that there is a proposal to run the final stage of the building as an ApartHotel (the builder and the owner of the Spanish restaurant who was here before our block was built). I don't know how to find out the truth as there is also a rumour that the Aparthotel idea is what the Investment company is proposing. A Spanish friend's son-in-law told me he had seen the Planning Application for the Aparthotel. If there is a change of use to the building we will have to be told about this I hope. Additionally, if Aparthotel has use of the pool I have been told they will have to upgrade it for (commercial) use by disabled and must provide toilets and changing facilities.

June

June

Thanks very much for the update.

Do you know if the Apartments which are allegedly owned by the investment company are all in the same location, within the development?

Has Paco given any idea of when the lift problem will be sorted? 

Jayne (If she is able) and I are coming out to Sucina at the end of September, Jayne will be on crutches so there is no way she will be able to walk up the stairs, and we only have access to 1 lift in our part of the building.

Sucina was hit with very heavy rain this week and on Wednesday there was torrential rain. A 25 year old lost her life when her car was washed away on Torre Pacheco road nearby and our weather hit national Spanish news. The rain however has lowered the temperatures considerably and it is now only 26-28 degrees and it actually feels quite cold now.

Anyway, the liftshaft in stairway K was like a waterfall and some flats in that stairway had flood damage. Fortunately I had a key for someone living there and we managed to rescue her furniture and I have now organised repair to her ceilings which were near to bursting open. The severe flooding in that staircase has meant no electricity to the flats there. Every time there is a storm Sucina is left without electricity for several hours so I hope no-one has left their freezer full of food.

As far as I know the drains on the roofs could not cope with the really heavy rain and some drains were blocked. When I find out more I will let you know. Tony went up to the roof and said he was walking in water well above his ankles.

If you have left your keys with Golf Invest I suggest you ask them to check your flat and I have done that for the people I know in my staircase.

The good news is that Tony used the heavy rainfalls to clean the area by the pool and it is looking much better there.

Completion has taken place (or is taking place soon) on the 42 flats and builders have been very busy getting white goods in and generally tidying up staircases and other areas. It is looking like the December deadline for Phase 2 will be much earlier so be warned. I have heard that some people in Phase 2 have been asked to move to properties in Phase 1 and that the remainder of the properties in Phase 2 will not be internally completed until 2010 and will now be for sale (rather than used as an Aparthotell). There is a new hospital very nearby and there will be 400 doctors and nurses to be housed so builder will NOT be lowering his sales prices and hopes to sell when hospital opens.

If you have not completed yet I suggest you get your flat properly SNAGGED and don't leave it to Golf Invest to do for you as their idea of snagging is completely different to mine

June.

Thanks for the info June

Hello everyone again

Staircase K now watertight and I think problem was related to a split pipe in one of the flats and NOT to blocked drains. Louse has been very busy checking flats and has been kept very busy. Anyway, K lift to lower ground parking is back working again. Temp back up to 31 deg today.

I will not be posting much on this site as there have been complaints about what I am saying. Any communication for information on progress to the building completion ought to be done via Golf Invest office.

For those who don't know, the Fish & Ship shop is up for rental/sale but still operating with higher prices than before. Emma's bistro has had to remove their outside chairs and tables because Guardia said they didn't have a licence. This this may be the same for Arco's bar as they didn't have chairs outside this week. Joachim & Rosa had a great holiday on their cruise and are back doing a roaring trade again. There is a live singer at Rosario's next Saturday (tickets via Billy or Garry) We are also having our local Fiesta next weekend and the following weekend. Upper is back to NOT trading on a Sunday morning as summer has ended but Paula's bakers open again on Sundays!

I am waiting on permission to get a high aerial on roof to get Telitec wireless internet at speeds much faster than landline ASDL. With this capacity I can get UK Freeview live stations and catch-up (watch again tv) via my computer linked by a cable to my TV for 7.99 euro a month. No football channels but at least my computer will be able to quickly download and upload info and I will have a UK IP address for secure banking. I hope I will be able to post some photos here if I am allowed my aerial on roof.

Many thanks June for the updates, hope not to much damage done with the storm. We heard it was relly quite bad. I for one will miss your updates on the apartments as it proved useful for those unable to travel over regularly.

I hope to travel over this week so hopefully get a chat with you.

Take care, Mark Thornton

I think we will all miss your updates June,  but hopefully you can still keep us up to date with whats happening in the village.

Hi June,

i would be grateful if you could give me an update on the final phase.  I was in Spain in September when Paco advised me that my appartment, within the final phase was not going to be completed. The builders where in fact going to 'seal off'' the last section with a view to completing it when the economic climate improved.

 He offered me another one, in phase one but I was not sure I wanted to change and sign a new contract etc. I was in the process of negotiating a better deal for myself when I received some mail from my lawyers saying that Paco had now said the final stage was now in fact completed and my original appartment was ready and finished. This goes against what he said a couple of months ago....is this now the case?  You may be able to save me a trip to Spain .

regards

nick Hunt

I am back online. Still no wireless broadband because I need permission from the Community for my aerial. Will be seeking support at Community meeting in December. When I know the date I will give you my private email to send me emails of support for this.

So, am back with dial up and cannot upload any photos of the "building site".

Am waiting on a resolution to a major problem I have. If it is not resolved soon I will be posting quite a lot on this site.

Speak to you all soon.

June

Hi June 

Good to see you back.  We have missed your updates. 

Take Care

Nice to hear from you June.

please keep us updated.

hi june i am back for the christmas period and will drop in to see you. on the tv side of things i had probelms with my tv signal when there 3 weeks ago. paco is looking into getting it on line. i am an audio visual specialist in uk . and have looked into english tv. i spoke to a company local who can supply me with all the equipment to get all english channels.

again like you when i spoke to paco he said it would have to be agreed by community as the dish would need to be 2.8mtr. the one dish and the system i cost up can feed upto 500 units(apartments). i cost up the kit and it worked out at 65 euro per unit based on 20. this would be less if more was added as the dish is the main cost of aprox 300/400 euro. the cabling that has been installed is fine and the new system can be connected to it. a good quality freeview box would be extra at 55 euro per person who connected to the system. i would be willing to install free of charge but would do mine first so the community could see the quality and trust it works. this is the best way around the unsightly problem of dishes everywere.

i will have to wait  until it is put to the community.  

see you 19th dec

bill / julie gillbanks

We are due to complete soon and I agree that one large dish is much better.  We would be willing to connect to this system.

Hi Bill

We completed in June and would be willing to contribute as well

hi all thanks for your reply. the kit i mentioned is an english company triax on sale to the european market which  my company was trained on. we will have to get the ok on the dish first, then i can work along side the company to design the system. i can save monies on the kit if i bring direct from uk, it will fit in a case. we will need only buy dish from local supplier.  My kids already have asked where the english TV .

as mentioned i am on site  from the 18th dec i will take some pics and post for an update.

best wishes bill Gillbanks. 

Thanks Bill, count Jacqui and I in. This sounds like a great suggestion. Many thanks to yourself and June for doing the homework on this system.

Mark and Jacqui.

Hi

Thanks for the info, we would also be interested in the communal dish, unfortunately we will miss the meeting as we will be over for a week but leave on the 13th December, although we have not been informed by the builder, did they write/e-mail only the current residents the meeting date

Tommy

The notice of the Community meeting was sent by email from Paco of Golf Invest. Hope to see you there, I am not standing for President. Please read my blog on the separate thread here about the meeting. There are still completions to be done in the last part of the building. Don't think habitation certificates have been granted there yet.

UPDATE

One shop almost complete in our building. It's the furniture shop from urbanization. No sign of any other shops being done up for rent.

I have heard we are getting a Sports Centre and a community indoor pool next year on the land between the urbanization and the village

English Butchers is closing down at Xmas.

Rosarios is doing a Xmax Day dinner for 28 euro. Anyone wishing to book, I will do this for you and pay the 10 euro deposit. Last year it was really good fun and we all then went to F & L for a party. Emma is also doing Xmas dinner, I think 35 euro. I am not going as I have been invited to a Spanish family home.

The new road is almost finished. A large part of it to San Javier is open. It will be finished by the end of the year.

Donde Ayer closed down a couple of months ago. It has been taken over by a young couple to cater for the "youth" of the village. Think they are having a party on New Year Eve.

There is a Xmas concert on 20th in the Community Centre. I am appearing in the Nativity Play (singing in Spanish).

There is a new "take-away" opposite Ferreteria. It's a Spanish roast chicken shop, but although signs are up haven't yet seen it open.

Area outside church has been re-landscaped and a building on corner of square has been refurbished and it will be opened as a posh bar I think. I know the Spanish man who is going to rent it and he has a bar in Avileses where we go from time to time as he plays good music and has the occasional karaoke.

New Year: Billy is organizing a party in Plaza Bar has a New Year Eve for 15 euro incl some drink and food. All the locals normally congregage in Square with 12 grapes and a bottle of Cava for the Bells. Then normally there is a dance in the Community Centre starting after the Bells. Last year it ended at about 7am with breakfast being provided. Not yet heard what is happening this year but I think there will definitely be a dance.

Thanks June for the update and all the news. Its great to get all theses bits of information. I did wonder about the Donde Ayer as we were very disapointed they were not doing food last time we visited.  Still in general it looks like the rise of Sucina continues!

HOLA everyone

i have posted my comments on the meeting re why TV aerials were discussed as I asked for this on the Agenda. It is hoped that the building will be completely finished before end of March, if not sooner.  I will be making sure that when we take over community charges, that quotes are obtained and it is not just Gines's company who does all the maintenance. However, there may be certain financial advantages for us to use his company or contacts. Gines has been a great help to me recently and I am sure he is as anxious as all of us that we have a superb building completed in good time.

We must also remember that there are Spanish people living here so we have to make sure all our needs are met. I am looking for a solution to provision of satellite TV for both English and Spanish people living here. Meantime, I just want Spanish freeview from the communal aerials as I am very happy with my new broadband TV and it's "catch up" facility. Spent 2 days catching up with Coronation Street, Gavin & Stacy and watching Xmas Dr Who. Sad old me, eh.

On a lighter note, here is a LINK to some photos of the Nativity Play I was in at Christmas. My photos appear near the list of people appearing in the play and I am wearing a brown skirt and headscarf (for those of you who haven't met me yet). It was a really well attended event, standing room only, with many people turned away at the door. Unusual for the Spanish they arrived half an hour before we were due to start so those turning up after the start time of 5.30 had no chance of getting in. That happened to a few of my English friends who thought they would do the typical Spanish thing and turn up late!!!

http://miradordealguazas.blogspot.com/2009/12/la-navidad-en-sucina.html

Hope you all had a good Christmas and a guid New Year. It is still a balmy 16 degrees and we haven't had too much bad weather.

JUNE (FLAT J  B, 1st floor)