Lanzarote Relocation

Posts Tagged ‘Lanzarote News’

We received a phone call from “Canada Bob”, a friend of Alan’s, today… who had spotted a commotion on Playa Blanca seafront. Not far from the TImanfaya hotel, a group of spectators had gathered around a sad sight.

A young whale had been washed ashore. It unfortunately did not survive. It was about fifteen feet long. Bob surmised that it may well have been a newborn or stillborn, and that a propeller had caught it, as its head was badly damaged, and there wasn’t much of it left. Apparently newborn whales go from the white they are born, to a darker colour within a few days – which shows this one was very young.

Many of us have never had the opportunity to see a whale up close and personal, so it is sad when your one opportunity is with one that has died. Let’s hope that there are not too many casualties in the unusual Lanzarote weather we are experiencing right now.

Anglican Church Services – February 2010

Costa Teguise  – “Avecost” Meeting Hall, C/La Fragata.  9.30 am

• 1st & 3rd Sundays: – Morning Prayer
• All other Sundays: – Holy Communion

Nazaret   -  Church of Nuestra Señora de Nazaret      -    10.00 am

• 1st and 3rd Sundays only: – Holy Communion

Puerto del Carmen -  Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in the harbour area of the Old Town   -  12.30 pm

• Every Sunday: – Holy Communion

Playa Blanca – Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen – 5.30 pm

• Every Sunday: – Holy Communion

On Ash Wednesday, 17th February, there will a service of Holy Communion with imposition of Ashes at 12.30 pm in Puerto del Carmen, old town.

NB:  If you would like prayers for loved ones during intercessions at our Sunday services, please contact Father Idris  (see below).

Other Anglican meetings – February 2010

• Mothers’ Union:   On Monday 8th February at 2pm the Mothers’ Union AGM will be held at the home of Kath Harding in Playa Blanca.  The AGM will be followed by a talk, continuing our theme “Cost of Relationship”, by David Dowdell entitled “Did you ask how much?”.  Visitors are welcome to attend the talk, joining us at 3pm.

• On Shrove Tuesday, 16th February, there will be a pancake tea at the home of Sheila Lewis in Playa Blanca.  We welcome visitors to this event.  A charge of 5 euros will be made and, after expenses, any surplus will be divided between the Mothers’ Union Literacy Fund and Young Heroes.

• Apostles Lunch:   On Tuesday 9th February, at 1.30pm, the Apostles lunch, which is a monthly informal social event, will be held at Blair’s Restaurant in Puerto del Carmen, close to the petrol station below the Chaplaincy House.  If you would like to attend, please contact Freida Burke on 928 524347.

• Bible Study  is held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.  Please contact David Dowdell on 928 834351.

Anglican Church Notices

Volunteers needed.  We urgently need to find volunteers to act a) as our deputy web-master, supporting David in the up-dating of our website, and b) as a member of our Publicity Committee.  If you would be willing to fill either or both of these untaxing, but valuable, roles  please contact any of the persons on the back page of this newsletter.

St Laurence Website.  If you are able, please visit our new website at lanzarotechurch.com.   We would welcome your comments. Please contact David Dowdell at david.dowdell@btinternet.com or  928 834351

Transport to Church Services.  If anyone should wish to attend one of our church services but is unable to do so for lack of transport, please contact Ray Macfarlane-Archer on 928 845818.  Details of the scheme are shown on the website. Volunteers to provide occasional lifts, please contact Ray.

A genuine blooper from another church magazine:
“Don’t let worry kill you off.  Let the Church help.”

Interdenominational Church Services – February 2010

• Held every Sunday at 11am at the Barcelo Lanzarote Resort, Avenida del Mar, Costa Teguise

If you would like to see your own church’s services and meetings included in this website each month for free -  then please contact Elle via email on info@lanzaroterelocation.co.uk

A message from Father John Jenkins (Anglican Church):

As you may have heard, Father Idris, your chaplain, has had to fly to the UK a week earlier than expected because his brother has been taken critically ill.  So this message falls to me.  First of all, let me wish you all a very happy and blessed New Year and Decade.  The New Year calls for resolutions, so let our resolution be to do what the prophet Micah said that the  Lord requires of us: “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God”

The leadership of our parish has recently been considering how to resource our future ministry in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.  As a result you will see inside a plea for volunteers for two positions within our parish structure.  And there will other vacancies in March when we elect new members to the PCC and our churchwardens, in addition to the on-going need to find welcomers and sacristans for our Sunday services.  We need to involve more lay people in the running of our parish.

Later this month the season of Lent will be upon us.  Traditionally Lent is a time of self-examination and self-denial when we attempt to break the hold upon us of those fears and addictions which impede our consciousness of freedom and truth.  But it is also a season of renewal and reformation.  Self discipline is essentially a loving activity, but it is of little value if it is not harnessed to unrealised potential, and if it does not allow us to give ourselves more creatively and unselfishly to the needs of others.  So I urge you to think carefully about how you can help our parish to thrive and grow, rather than struggling to keep going with our present range of services and activities.

The insight of Micah above is good advice as we face the unknown territory of a new decade.  The past has gone; the future is in God’s hands.  So we must put our whole trust in His goodness and mercy.  Trust in God in this precarious life is the only way to foster hope and courage.  Dag Hammarskjold, a former Secretary General of the United Nations, said this about the unknown future.  “Each day a first day;  each day a life. Each morning we must hold out the chalice of our being, to receive, to carry, to give back.  It must be held out empty, for the past must only be reflected in its polish, its shape and its capacity”.
Fr. John

Anglican Church Contacts

Chaplain:   The Reverend Idris Vaughan – 928 514241. Chaplaincy House, Calle Los Sabandenos 37,  35510   Puerto del Carmen
Reader:   David Dowdell  – 928 834351
Churchwarden & Secretary to the PCC: Linda Davis – 928 520803
Churchwarden:   Ken Rees   – 928 173003
Lay Vice-President:   Michael Norsworthy – 928 173052

Interdenominational Church Contacts

Alan Shaw – 928 833 382.
Website: www.sundayworshiplanzarote.com

Hi everyone. You may remember me extolling the virtues of Lisa Carlin and the fantastic massage I received at her Flutterby Wellness Centre in Lanzarote some time ago. Here is a link to that article: Chill Out!

Well, you lucky people – she has a special offer on at the moment. She offers a full body massage for only €20. It invigorates whilst it relaxes… strips you of dead skin cells, improves blood flow, relieves stiffness and tenseness.

I don’t normally post offers for companies in here – because that is not what this site is about (plenty of others ramming it down your throat elsewhere if that’s your thing)… but with the new year here… and most of us wanting to relax and feel better about ourselves – I thought we could all do with a treat.

I know that both Alan and I are working like crazy… with so many projects on the go – but just one hour a month is enough to chill us out… and leave us more prepared for dealing with life’s day to day excitement. I am sure that you guys are the same!

You can contact Lisa via her website HERE.

Over indulged and need to lose a few pounds?

Why not join in the Sponsored Slimathon in aid of Sara.

Losing weight and getting back into shape is always easier if you have the support of a like-minded group of people. But joining the SARA Slimathon gives you the added incentive knowing that any sponsorship money you raise will help the animals in Sara.

Mitch, personal trainer and fitness instructor, has very kindly agreed to oversee the Slimathon free of charge. He will be doing the initial weigh in / measure up, making individual charts with targets and assessments and providing record charts for daily food intake.
He would like us to meet up every four weeks for re-assessment and to give advice on how to improve etc

All you need to do is find a few sponsors willing to give you x amount of money per lb., kilo or inch you lose or a fixed amount if you reach your target. (Sponsorship forms will be provided).

The initial weigh in / measure up is on Sunday 10th January at 12 noon.

There is no obligation to join the group, if you would prefer to just do this privately, but please contact Lynne for your official sponsorship form.

If you would like to join in, be a sponsor or just need a form, please contact
Lynne on 646 838 749 or Email sarashelter@hotmail.com

On the sunny morning of December 10^th 2009 a sixty foot catamaran left Rubicon Marina in Playa Blanca to cross the Atlantic on a journey to the Caribbean. But this was no ordinary journey… as it was being sailed by Geoff Holt, about to become the first paraplegic to cross the vast waters, on an unaided sail.

For more information about Geoff, visit our other article HERE

Geoff is not sailing entirely alone. He has a full time carer on board, the bubbly New Zealander, Susana; and BBC cameraman Digby, who is filming this epic journey, and transmitting back to the UK via a satellite dome on board. However all of the sailing is to be carried out solely by Geoff himself.

After departing Marina Rubicon at a little after 10am… there was a bit of a worry that the Rib hired to take some of us out to see them off across the Bocaina Straits wasn’t going to arrive. But arrive it did – and off we skipped across the waves to catch them up. With all of us waving frantically, and blowing kisses, we powered around them a few times off the coast – giving Alan time to take lots of photographs for Geoff’s PR company for the day – before heading back to the Marina, and leaving Geoff, Susana and Digby to start their journey. A massive thank you to Marina Rubicon for organising the boat to take friends and family out and enable the photos you see of the boat on the first leg of its voyage through the Bocaina Straits. And also a VERY big thank you goes out from Geoff and the team for all the running around in the final days to sort out the food, the internet dome, and all those other vital things needed for the voyage ahead.

Geoff is due to arrive at Cane Garden Bay, in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, on the 27^th December 2009 – for an emotional reunion with the waters that changed his life so dramatically 25 years earlier. There he will be met by his wife Elaine – the lady he describes as his rock, and without whom none of this would have been possible, and his 7 year old son, Timmy… a bundle of energy that shares his daddy’s fearless passion for adventure… and whose pride in his father knows no bounds, and will certainly have received a warm welcome.

Over the past week or so, we have been extremely privileged to have spent time with Geoff and Susana, and later on with his wife Elaine, and son Timmy. Over dinner and drinks at Casa Alan & Elle, Geoff has had us howling with laughter at some his stories… whilst also being very humbled at what he has achieved over his lifetime. Just ask him about the cheese toasties contest… and he’ll be sniggering in no time at all.

Geoff is an extremely humble man… who doesn’t see anything exceptional in what he is about to achieve. His fire and enthusiasm is all geared towards supporting disabled people, and raising awareness of the charities that help, and the many nameless people that make this possible on a day to day basis. He has a wicked sense of humour (that’ll be the Pompey in him – or at least I like to think so). He loves comedy… and we’ll almost forgive him for not liking sci-fi quite as much as we do. Geoff penned a book “Walking on Water” after sailing all around the UK – and if you haven’t read it yet – then you must! It’s available via his website… or on Amazon. I read it last week in two days. Once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down. Great to spend time with you Geoff – and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Hope you enjoy what’s on your computer now )

Susana is a bubbly and friendly girl, who has been travelling all over the world since she was able to fund her first jaunt. She was employed by Geoff not because of her sailing experience (indeed she had none until she met Geoff) but because of her personality, care skills, and life experience. Susana (or Suze to her friends) is a warm and loving individual… and lights up every room she enters. If you’re reading this Suze… I’m sorry I made you cry today – it was all just so emotional. Oh and I’ll be sure to tell our Aussie pals, Russ and Wes, that they are a pair of Occas! Oh, and I’ll always think of you when watching Zoolander! Enjoy your vino chica!

Elaine – we have only really got to know Elaine the last couple of days… since she arrived on Tuesday – but what a pleasure it has been to do so. Elaine is definitely Geoff’s soulmate, and she constantly backs him in his endeavours. Not one to enjoy being in front of the cameras too much, she keeps everything tied together behind the scenes, and her implicit devotion and support is apparent in absolutely everything she does. Loving those flip flops honey – wedge heels are so in! We’ll see you tomorrow!

Timmy – what a little gem he is! A very intelligent young man… he is polite at all times… the first in line to help out… and a right little firecracker! We are taking him and his Mum Elaine on the Timanfaya tour tomorrow, as well as a camel ride. Apparently he just wanted to see two things in Lanzarote – a volcano and a camel. Well Timmy… we’ll be sure to oblige tomorrow for you! Bring your camera!

A big thank you to all of you that have emailed your many messages of support via this site, and on Facebook. Geoff and the Crew appreciate that Thursday is often a difficult day for people to get away from their desks to physically wave him off… but knows you were there with him in spirit. All wishes and messages were much appreciated (by the way – Kirsty… yes both Geoff and Elaine DO remember you).

Photographs included with written permission by Alan Gandy. ©Alan Gandy. All rights reserved

Geoff and Susana

It was with great pleasure today that we accepted the invitation of Geoff Holt to go and spend some time with him on his amazing boat currently moored in the Marina Rubicon in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Geoff has an inspirational story to tell, and is about to become the first paraplegic to cross the Atlantic.

Impossible Dream

In 1984, Geoff suffered a Diving accident in Tortola, which left him paralysed from the chest down. Not one to sit and wallow… geoff’s determination and drive resulted in him continuing to sail – just as he had done ever since he was a child. Since that time, Geoff has become a founding Trustee of the RYA Sailability program, which has enabled over 20000 people with disabilities to try sailing for themselves, every year.

Where it all happens

In 2007, Geoff became the first disabled sailor to sail around the United Kingdom unaided. You can read more about his amazing experience on his website Personal Everest.

Now… in December 2009, Geoff is about to do it again – this time by sailing unaided across the Atlantic… back to the very place that robbed him of his mobility all those years ago. It’s one in the eye for Tortola, as Geoff will make an emotional return to the site – whilst sticking his two fingers up at Tortola to say “You’ll never beat me”.

Geoff is carrying out ALL of the sailing unaided during his trip which departs on December 10th, and hopefully arrives at its destination on 27th December. However, despite carryng out all the sailing duties himself… Geoff does need someone to help him with such things as getting in and out of bed – and so will be accompanied by the lovely Susana, a New Zealander who is joining him for the trip. Susana is bubbly and vivacious… and very excited about the trip, whilst also showing (quite understandably) a couple of last minute nerves. It is an amazing opportunity to the young woman, who will not be helping with the sailing in any way. Susana didn’;t have any previous sailing experience or qualifications… but since applying for the role of Geoff’s carer, she has already achieved all the qualifications necessary to ensure everyone’s safety at sea.

Impossible Dream

Also accompanying Geoff and Susana will be a BBC cameraman, to capture every moment of the voyage.

We were given a tour of the yacht today – a 60ft, stunning, purpose built, wheelchair accessible yacht called “The Impossible Dream”. It is owned by the charity Sporting Activities For The Disabled and every little thing has been considered.

Geoff’s wife Elaine, and his son Timothy, are jetting out to Lanzarote to see him off… and are very excited about his project.

Geoff hails from Portsmouth – and as a Pompey lass myself… of course we were very excited to get the invitation to go and have a look inside this fantastic yacht.

Geoff Holt and Elle Draper

A huge thank you to Geoff and Susana who welcomed us warmly, and we look forward to spending some more time with them both before they go. All monies raised will go to the charity of Geoff’s choice, which is the Ellen MacArthur Trust.

Good luck guys – we’ll be watching you all the way! Enjoy the Maltesers… and don’t forget – Alan’s taking you shopping!!

You can read more about Geoff’s amazing journey on his website www.geoffholt.com which will be continually updated during the voyage. If you have a website of your own… please do add his link to it – or ask your wreb designers to do it for you.

Supermarkets in Playa Blanca are often the subject for conversation in various Lanzarote forums and on travel sites on the web.

Supermarkets in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

Hiperdino is well regarded as the best place in the town to do your main shopping. The original store (opened 2006) is located on the dual carriageway from the harbour to the town centre (directions at the end of this article). Read the rest of this entry »