JUNE'S UPDATE ON LA VEREDA DE SUCINA

UPDATE SINCE LAST MEETING

We were promised work would be finished by beginning April. Anyone I have talked to here see very little difference as most of the work seems to be concentrated on commercial units and finishing the flats.

Communal areas still filtlhy and potentially dangerous.

I have been continually reporting no TV reception in staircases J and K siance before Christmas. Last week I reported this again on Monday, on Tuesday was told by PACO that Carlos has checked aerials and there was nothing WRONG with them. He also said tv reception was perfect in staircase F. All very well, but if the majority of owners usisng other aerials can't get channels because the aerials move or fall down whenever there is a wind, we as a community will have to keep paying for this upkeep.

FINALLY, the date of next community meeting was announced as 1 April. As far as I know this is a local holiday and so is 2 April (Good Friday). I doubt that the meeting will be held on 1 April. I can get no definite answer so please ALL of you email Ginex or Paco till you get a definite date.

Weather has been very nice lately, 25 degs yesterday

June

Hi June

Thanks for the update, we are still waitiing for our habitation certificate since December, and therfore have not completed as yet, do you know if this is the same for either existing or future property owners

Tommy & May

HI Tommy & May

Take a look at the post (Habitation Certificates) on this forum. 

Cheers June for the update.

I agree with June about the state of the development. We were there for a week in January and I had to sweep the whole areas near to the pool to get rid of the builders rubbish. it is an absolute disgrace. I know that some people read these pages to see what the general feeling is about the development. As for habitation certificate we took it on trust last June that one had been granted, but we haven't seen it. As for a certain person checking the aerials and saying they are ok, this man seems to know everything, except the obvious. Rather than paying out any money to put things right he will just say there is nothing wrong, and his word seems to be gospel.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE END OF APRIL WITH 2 WEEKS' NOTICE.

Gines became a father a week or so ago and has not been around.
The building is looking only slightly better than at the time of

the last meeting, and I really doubt it will be finished by end of

April. But still a lot of workmen painting everywhere

What's New
New hand railings at entrance doors
Furniture shop nearly finished but no sign of any other commercial
units being prepared for rental
Work continues at a steady pace in various flats
Doors to common area/pool all been replaced with 3 larger, white
new doors (much much quieter when the wind bangs them shut)

What's Needing Done

• Antennas. 2 aerials down and for those with Freesat or whateverdishes on these aerials, companies will not repair UNTIL thepermanent aerials are PROPERLY secured and are stable enough totake satellites. Someone said they should be secured in 6 places,not just at bottom of a 6' aerial
• Door entry: please check next time you are here that your door actually opens on ground floor when you press to let someone in
• Entrances to building: still needing glass and lights. They also need re-aligning to ensure they don't bang and reverbate round the whole building when someone enters or leaves
• Railings outside on ramp to pool area needing repainted
• Roof tiles above pool area broken and needing replaced (broken tiles plus a dead bird below where tiles fell)
• Pointing to areas around pool needing attention
• Steps leading into pool needing secured
• Tiles loose in common area round pool
• Undergound garage is an ABSOLUTE DISGRACE with rubbish and filth everywhere
• Common areas (inside and out) STILL filthy and unattractive

New from Sucina: 
Sports Centre structure already in place
Seats & tables appeared 2 weeks ago in Plaze Square outside Em's and Archos. Summer on its way and temps better tho cold at night
Marie Carmen dress shop closed down (some other small shops also appear vulnerable). Petrol garage suffering due to lost trade from new motorway. All businesses here feeling the pinch I thinkI
Hacienda Riquelme full of golfers this week and taking in lots of money
Linda trying to rent out her Fish & Chip shop. May be a good business for someone who knows the trade as Riquelme visitors are
very good customers during the summer
New building been renovated on corner of square. Wonderful location or a pub/bistro (with an outdoor courtyard). Its for rent
Motorway exit to Riquelme nearly completed as farmer was forced to accept money offered by road builders
San Javier Jazz Festival programme (all July) now announced

I hate to gossip but thought you ought to know that Billy Bling has been ostracised by a lot of Brits here in Sucina for allegedly "dipping into" funds for Easter Parade. Although he has now paid the 1,500 back people have lost trust in him. There is another site for info on Sucina:

 http://sucinabb.freepowerboards.com/

You can read all about this and make up your own mind on this issue but I hope it doesn't ruin the carrying of the British float at the Easter Parade in 2 weeks time.  You can also keep yourself up to date on all issues in Sucina.

If anyone is looking to buy a cheap 2nd hand car let me know. There are a few going cheap for a quick sale because people going back to UK and URGENTLY need some cash.

Finally, can I remind everyone who has bought here to register on the Padron at the local office in Sucina (copy of your deeds needed).   This is not a Residencia. It just means that the local Council will receive extra money from Murcia Council for new people on the Padron and so we will get MORE and better community facilities.

Looking forward to seeing you all. If you don't know where I live, let me know and I'll give you my flat no. and telephone no. If you
need picked up at airport, send me a personal message and I can arrange this at a reasoanable cost to you and if I am free I will pick you up myself. I also have a few contacts for cheap car "share/rentals" in village. These are all  insured, as in Spain it is the CAR which is ensured and not the owner.

 

Well done June its nice to know that there is someone local keeping everybody up to date and informed

yes thanks June, good details as always.  I struggled with the Sucina website link ( http://sucinabb.freepowerboards.com/ ) couldn`t find anything?

I clicked on the website in your reply to me and it went straight to Sucina web site. Once there you just have to click on any of the folders. YOU MAY HAVE TO REGISTER TO USE IT THOUGH.

Yes thanks when I copied to google - no good, but my own link works on here!

Finally, the building is being cleaned and today William was washing down tiles beside pool. Covered communal access to pool area has been swept. Hopefully it will be mopped down as well. If not, I will have it done on Saturday. by my Spanish friend when she is here to clean my flat.

Top windows to entrance doors to building have been glazed today also. I think some stairs have also been cleaned. But at least something is being done.

PLEASE BRING WITH YOU PACO's mobile phone no. (or Louise's) as Golf Invest office closed down after New Year. If anything goes wrong with your flat or communally while I am away phone Paco or Louise.

Have a good Easter.

June

Thanks for tthe update June.

Jayne and I will be over in about 4 weeks, look forward to seeing you then.

Hi June only just discovered the forum. We are comimg over for the first time on the 5th April for 1 week to look at our investment.You seem to be in the know, wondering if you were around for a chat.

Yes, I am in stair J, floor 1, flat 1B. My mob is 0034679561075 so please ring first. I have a table and chairs near the pool and am there most days for half an hour or so.

June

I am also coming out later this month and would love to have a chat with you as you are the all seeing oracle!

Regards

Hi June

Sorry we missed you, we only picked up your email on our return home, we only had a week in Murcia.  We saw the apartments and had a good look around. 

Special

Weather is now getting really warm and lots going on in our building. Stairs and lifts are being cleaned on a regular basis by a local woman. Area round pool looking better. Work almost completed on the Mueble furniture shop. They are now working on a bar/restaurant next which I hope will be open by summer. I am still having problems with the following and if you have problems with these too please email Gines regularly until we get our problems sorted out.

TV aerials:  not all staircases can get all the TDT (Spanish Freeview) channels. There are 30 tv and 16 radio channels. When films or series originally made in English are broadcast you can change your TDT audio to English. So you can see Lost, Desparate Housewives, CSI, NCIS, Mentalist, Bones and MANY MANY others in English. All aerials need to be secured properly and pointed in the correct direction to get the full package.

Door entry system:  please check your door entry systems work. I can hear my bell but when I press to open, the door does not open; So I can't see my unexpected visitors, unless they PHONE ME FIRST.

Sewage smells:  many people have reported sewage smells. This may just be because toilets and water are not being used on a regular basis.

Plumbing faults:  floods etc. is the bugbear of most owners. Much of the marble has been discoloured because of floods, not as is being said because it is a "fault of the marble".

However, everyone I have met on holiday has been more than happy with their purchase and with SUCINA itself. But remember, if you are letting your flat out to friends/family, it CAN BE VERY COLD HERE from October to May. I have only just put my thermals in storage. You will need to provide a source of heating and warm bedding as it can be freezing at night. Equally, we have had short very very hot spells this year with temps in high 20s in November/Dec.

In Sucina itself, Hacienda Riquelme has been very very busy with golfers since before Easter and so Emma's Bistro has been exceptionally busy. It is recommended you book for a meal there in the summer.

The Indian has changed hands (one of the workers has taken it over). He will be doing a 3 course meal on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for £10.95.  I tried it out last week and it was excellent. You can also phone ahead for a take-away meal for the night you arrive to be ready for collection.

The ex owner of the Indian rest. is opening a new restaurant in the Dress Shop which closed down and it will be an International Restaurant.. He is still running the Pizza restaurant too.

I don't think the pedestrianisation of the centre will be done till after the summer. From Calle Mayor (Cam Bank) up to past Rosarias there are plans  to pedestrianise the roads. Meantime the open area between Bodega and Urbanisation has been cleared of ALL rubbish. Abel (who works for F & L and speaks a little English) is going to run the outside bar of the Bodega there from June to September.  If its opening hours are the same as last summer, you will be able to drink until very late in the night. Donde Ayer is still the venue for the younger people here, and again the place for late night drinking and musi.

Plaza Bar is now doing cheap Spanish specialities, good tapas, barbacued grilled plates of lovely meat (a la parilla), sizzling prawns in garlic, oven baked octopus. He does gazpacho, and paella on Wednesday lunchtimes (3 course meal for 8 euros including drink). Note staff do not speak English but menus done by me in English so you can just point to what you want. His drink prices and coffee very cheap too.

Arcos have also changed their menu and are offering good cheap food. Drink a wee bit dearer than other places but staff do have good understanding of English.

Frank & Louises still the same and I think it will be very busy there this summer with people from Riquelme. If you like a Sports bar, and a place to meet English speakers, this is the place to go.

Finally, don't forget our Cultural Centre where you get home made food, cheap drink, local banter and a smile from Teresa who does her best to speak slowly in Spanish, though at the top of her voice. Take your earplugs with you, but you will have a really truly Spanish experience there. It's my 2nd home (along with Plaza Bar) where all the characters of the Spanish people here hang out.

The Sports Centre (near road into Urbanisation) seems almost finished externally

We are having our own World Cup in June. F & L are sponsoring the Brits and Plaza Bar sponsoring the Spanish. Further details can be found on the Sucina community forum:  http://sucinabb.freepowerboards.com/. In this forum you will find out what is happening in Sucina.

I have another useful website for you to find out WHAT IS ON LOCALLY. or to let them know if you are running a charity event or any other kind of event    It is

www.simplynetworking.es

There is a daily diary of events, concerts, fiestas etc. and it has great links for all events including maps of how to get to the events.

I am off to Barcelona next (having been to Valencia, Murcia, Sevilla and Madrid) from 24 June to 3 July to spend time at a music festival and to celebrate my birthday. See you all soon.

June (flat JB)

More great info June thanks. If its ok with you I will mention some of it on the Hacienda Riquelme forum as thats sometimes high on rumour and low on facts!! (with full credits of course)

The further pedestrianisation sounds great and I am sure it will bring even more life to the village centre.  I also appreciate the bar info which is always important to me.

thanks, Steve

Hi June again. Many positive comments on the H Riquelme forum to your latest Sucina update. One lady wants you to post on that forum as well and another was asking where the Community Centre is.  Another posted this:-

"June you are a real gem. Perhaps you should become the local reporter for the area. We need someone like you to keep us all informed with well balanced factual information. Thanks for all your efforts much appreciated"

I don't want to double my work, so you can copy and paste anything I write onto your HR site. I have had a look at HR site here.

I was on my way to Tres Culturas Fiesta on Saturday night via HR and A30 and came across a deep deep flood right outside entrance to HR. I doubled back and went then to Avileses (what a state the road is outside Peraleja Golf) and came across another flooded road on way to Murcia.  I ended up going up the new road RM1 to Murcia and through the town to La Artelleria. I missed one of the free concerts I was going to because of this, but managed 2 others getting home at 2am. Murcia city has lots on offer for free if you are adventurous and don't mind driving there.

Do you know if it is the Council who is responsible for the road outside HR, or is it Polaris World as I want to complain about it?

The Cultural Centre is 2 mins walk from Frank & Louises and from church square. Monday local market is held outside it, and you pass it on the road to HR if you go via street where Upper is. All classes provided by Murcia council are held here and are free. Unfortunately,. registration for next year's Spanish classes has now closed.

If places become available I shall post here.

As the weather heats up (35degs+ this week), the village is getting very busy.

I met a Spanish friend yesterday in the street who told me she had been with her CV for a job in a restaurant here. So I asked her where and she said in my building. Spoke to Gines about it. and he is opening a restaurant and a supermarket (DICOST) and a manager called Regina has been appointed and is using the old Golf Invest office (so please don't bother her with help relating to your apartments). He hopes to open both in mid July and work is progressing well (but this is Spain) so watch this space. Also leased out are a hairdressers and an Irish Bar. Don't have any info about opening dates but when I know, I will post here.

Most restaurants in village busy every evening, so booking recommended when you are here for your holidays. The new "International" restaurant is due to open 16 June. Spoke to owner last night when I went for my take away pizza after football so this information is straight from the horse's mouth. His pizzas  (beautiful home made bases) are delicious for anyone who hasn't tried them, and prices very reasonable. He also is doing daily specials (fish, pasta, curries etc for 10 euros).

The new chip shop is doing very well and the prices are very good and food much better than before. There is a good selection and all food is cooked to order. At present  it is only open in the evenings. ~As far as I know from English friends Glenda from Arcos allows you to eat outside at her tables so long as you buy drink from her bar. The same applies to Frank & Louise, you can eat your pizza or fish and chips outside as a take-away if you buy drinks from that bar. Food not allowed inside F & L's bar because of the smell.

Rosarios have their tables outside again and their 3 tapas and a bottle of wine for 10 euro is proving popular. Although Manolo is longer working there and is missed greatly, they do have a menu (LA CARTA not EL MENU) in English.  For those who knew the very popular waiter there, he has managed to find a job in Neuvo Condominia in Murcia. If you ask for el menu in a typically Spanish speaking bar who are not used to English clients that means you are asking for the menu of the day and not for the a la carte menu.

For those interested  in our little World Cup, the score was Spain 4, England 3. The Ex Pats did very well considering that the Spanish side had 6 or 8 players who played for Sucina in the 1980s when they won a cup locally. The cup will be on dislay in Plaza Bar for a year until the next game. The football ground is superb and is used nightly for football practise for clubs from all over the region. It's to the left going out the village on the current road to Riquelme. I met some new Spanish people last night there, so hopefully any information I get in the future will be as accurate as possible.

The Spanish Air Force display (like the Red Arrows) will take place in La Ribera (viewable from beaches from there to Lo Pagan) tomorrow Sunday from 10am till 2pm. It is quite spectacular so I hope to get down early for a spot in the shade on the beach.

See you soon.