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Mina is a small dog, curious by nature, who is scared of nothing. She chases anything that moves, especially rabbits. She is shy with people she does not know initially.

Mina is about three years, sterilised, weighs eight kilos, and has a white-cream coat with black nose and ears like butterflies. She has a chip, nr. 985 121 013 145 522 and was wearing a collar with phone number. Anyone who has seen her please call 965 734 133 or email femkevaniperen@yahoo.co.uk

By Rob Innis

In a former life a Sunday breakfast treat was the traditional British fry up and jolly good it was too – just right to fill your stomach either before or after (but not both) a bracing walk along a coastal promenade or a good hike over the hills.

Now Sundays take on a different stance and churros are the order of the day.

Breakfast with churros or porras is a very old tradition which is traditionally accompanied with hot thick chocolate. My Spanish wife claims churros are best known in Madrid where eating churros is enjoyed after a night of celebration and many chuerrias open as the late night venues including discos close around 4am.

Their origins are naturally disputed with many theories quoted about who/when/where the first churros were consumed. Some say it all began in Catalonia in the early nineteenth century, others believe it was the Arabs who brought them to the Iberian Peninsula.

Others claim the shepherds are the creators, deriving its name from the cattle churro. In any case, there is no official edict to clarify their origin. Even the Provincial Association of Employers of Churros in Madrid, who has researched the topic, has not managed to shed official light on this point.

So put the debate to one side and just get on with the eating – churros are the smaller ones twisted to link both ends whilst porras are their big fat long cousin, perfect for dipping into the hot sticky chocolate or a cafe con leche.

Now I am one of chocolates biggest fans, but I cannot face it for breakfast so my standing order is

“Coffee con leche, muy largo de cafe con dos porras por favor”

Mind you I do sometimes deviate and hit a 2.50€ Brit fry-up and why not? Down here on the coast we call in the `fry-up wars´ with each `caf’ currently trying to outdo the one down the road.

In a visit to the DWP’s Pension, Benefits & Healthcare team in Madrid, Iain Duncan Smith warned British people living abroad not to break the strict rules on what benefits they can and can’t claim. He also urged law-abiding Brits to use the dedicated Spanish fraud hotline to report benefit thieves.

People who are pretending to live in the UK to claim benefits, but are actually living overseas cost the taxpayer an estimated £43 million last year. More allegations of people living in Spain whilst continuing to receive UK benefits are received than for any other foreign country, making Spain the number one country for abroad fraud.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith said:

“We are determined to clamp down on benefit fraud abroad, which cost the British taxpayer around £43 million last year. This money should be going to the people who need it most and not lining the pockets of criminals sunning themselves overseas. The vast majority of British people overseas are law abiding, but fraudulently claiming benefits while living abroad is a crime and we are committed to putting a stop to it.”

Since its launch in 2008, over 750 calls to the Spanish hotline have resulted in criminal investigations by fraud investigators in the UK and over 100 people have been sanctioned or prosecuted. 134 cases are currently being investigated and £3.1 million in benefit over payments have been identified and will be reclaimed.
The small Pension, Benefit & Healthcare team based in Spain provide support to the estimated 1million Britons living there. They work with the Spanish Authorities on behalf of the DWP and Department of Health to prevent and detect benefit fraud, ensure correct access to the Spanish healthcare system, and combat misuse of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Abroad fraud involves a range of scams such as people on means-tested benefits going abroad but failing to declare their absence, undeclared property abroad, and individuals working while claiming sickness benefits. In Spain, claims for Income Support or Pension Credit are the most frequently investigated for fraud.

If you suspect someone of benefit fraud in Spain you can call Benefit Fraud Hotline in Spain on: 900 554 440 or you can report a thief online via:

Dates for your diary: Friday/Saturday 20th and 21st April 2012. Venue, as always, at the Casa De Cultura in La Romana at 8pm.

Tickets will be available at the usual outlets and now from Amigos de La Romana Charity Shop/Centre. Price of 5€ each. We advise people to purchase tickets prior to the performances even though they can be bought at the door.

Programmes, refreshments and raffle tickets will also be available each evening.

R.A.T.S. would like to thank all those who attended past productions and helped raise money for the local community. Here is how and where we have helped:

700€ – Medical Centre
1000€ – Casa De Cultura, repairs to the stage areas
300€ – La Romana school, for a new digital camera and accessories
400€ – Casa de Juvenil, La Romana, for a new pool table

Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you in April.

You can find us on facebook too…… search for …. rats la romana.