Care For Your Pool And It Will Care For You

It’s summer! It’s hot! You need to cool down, so jump into your pool. It’s fantastic! Yet at Moraira Plumbing and Heating, we are seeing more and more people who are having problems with their pool, just when they should be enjoying it! When we look into the problems, the majority of problems come down to pumps and filters.

All pools get dirty. On a windy day, dust and leaves are blown into the pool. The actual water supply may not be as good as it could. And of course, we humans can be quite dirty, covered in a mixture of sweat and sun cream, it all gets into the water. We won’t mention the algae that can grow in the water, and be honest, how many of you let your dogs swim in the pool. You get the picture.

To overcome this, you need to constantly pump the water through a filtration system. There are several types of filter, the most common being essentially fine sand. This filters particles down to 10 microns, that’s half the size of the finest human hair. The sand can last up to 5 years before it becomes too smooth to work, however it needs regular attention by being back-washed.

The pump is another matter indeed. We see pumps that are in poor condition, pumps that have failed, pumps that are too small for the job, and pumps that have been poorly or wrongly installed. No matter how good you filter is, if the pump is no good, your pool will remain full of rubbish!
Sizing a pump is not difficult if you know what you are doing. At MPH, we have all the calculations necessary to ensure any pump we fit will work. We take into account the size of the pool, the amount of time you wish to run the pump, and of course the strength, power and efficiency required. By balancing these factors, we ensure the running costs don’t run away!

Finally, and this may sound strange, but it’s also worth considering pool heating. Now is the time. It means you can use your pool way past summer, why not enjoy your investment even more!

If you’re having any problems with your pool pump and filter, call us on 966 498 993,
or visit our showroom. Moraira Plumbing & Heating, Centro Comercial Moravit on the Moraira Calpe road, a km outside of Moraira.

Canadian Spa and Charleworth Garden Centre

If you’re into Spas, then you’ll know that getting good, honest and reliable service here in Spain has not been the easiest of things. Most of us probably know someone who has had a poor experience with unreliable suppliers, and even found their supplier has simply dissappeared. So it was refreshing to visit Canadian Spa who are committed to supplying a great product, at a fantastic price, with good backup and most of all, friendly service.

Canadian Spa originated in Canada (obviously) some 30 years ago and have operations worldwide. Most recently, they have expanded into Spain via their very successful UK business. Top priority was to find someone who shared their passion for customer care, here in Spain. This is where Paul and Linda come in! Born and bred northerners craving some nice weather, they moved to Denia a couple of years ago. They brought with them the possibility to buy and service Canadian Spas, along with those all-important customer service values.

Hot Tubs (as they’re sometimes known) are often thought to be for the young and adventurous. This couldn’t be more wrong! Canadian Spa have been working hand in glove with the medical fraternity in Ontario for many years, in order to develop the well-being and health benefits side of their Spas. If you suffer from back problems, muscular complaints, arthritis or sports injuries, then a Canadian Spa can bring you some gentle relief. The water jets don’t just make bubbles, they are strategically placed to target those aches and pains we so often experience.

In a tough economic climate, and increasing ‘carbon footprint’ awareness, I was concerned about the running costs of one of these spas.
Paul acknowledged my concern and showed me hard data which proved that running costs have fallen by 80% in the last 5 years due to design refinements and increased efficiency. Running costs are around 50cents per day!

The showroom is quite extensive and Paul and/or Linda are always on hand to discuss your needs. The setting at the new Charleswoth Garden Centre in Gata was impressive to say the least, which neatly brings me on to the Garden Centre itself.

Located just outside Gata on the N332, you’ll find a very well stocked garden centre, of the kind you’d expect to find anywhere in the UK. The way it’s laid out means you can get a true idea of how what you purchase will look back home. It’s not just plants, shrubs and the like.

You’ll find a range of pots and planters, and some very cool looking ground coverage in the way of marble tiles, and what can only be described as very bling-y tarmac. You really have to see it to believe it.

Charlesworth Gardens has always been client led. They listen to and care about what their clients have to say. As part of expanding their existing landscape and maintenance services, with the new garden centre they’ll be offering a service to help you with your planting requirements.

If you have any questions about plants or landscaping, want general garden advice, or simply need to ask questions about what plants you want for your garden all you have to do is contact them. If you either email or call they can arrange a time for you to come in and have one to one help with your queries, so you get the advice you need.

As part of this service if they do not have a particular plant in stock or you have an odd request they will be more than happy to order the plants in for you as part of their special client order request service.
Spanish gardens can be a little difficult at times but with the right kind of advice and help you will be able to have a beautiful garden that works for your requirements and situation.

Contact them either by telephone or drop them an email, or via the web site www.charlesworthgardens.com and get the help you want, one to one, simply let them know how they can help you.

So, if you fancy some good quality Spa and Garden advice, even if it’s just to find out more, pop along to Gata when it’s convenient for you!

Now Open 7 days a week (Mon to Fri, 10am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm), Canadian Spas 691 158 767 and Charlesworth Garden Centre, 966 113 374, can be found at the IronArt outlet, just outside Gata de Gorgos on the N332 towards Teulada.

There’s plently of parking, an on site coffee shop, in fact all you need for a relaxing visit to a Garden Centre.

Put Your Foot Down for Top Quality Discount Furniture

When you think about it, top quality furniture at discount prices is a really attractive proposition. The problem is, most retailers on the Costa Blanca have little or nothing to back up the claim. So when I went to visit Continental Interiors in Gata to find out what makes them different, I have to admit to have been extremely pleasantly surprised.

You see, Continental Interiors in Gata is one of the many outlets for a £10 million company which has been established for many many years. When you’re that big, you really have a lot of buying power, which results in significant savings, which are passed on to the likes of you and I, the customers. And with that sort of buying power, you can really put your foot down when it comes to quality! That is in essence what Continental Interiors is all about!

The store in Gata is certainly impressive. Firstly, it’s easy to find between Gata and Teulada on the N332. Secondly, there is an abundance of free and easy parking. And thirdly there is over 8,000 square feet of showroom floor space so you really can see what you’re buying and compare different types of furniture, woods and finishes.

Continental Interiors’ furniture is made from solid wood – no laminates here! There’s a range of Oak, Ash, Pine, Mahogany and even some of the more exotic dark woods from Asia. The range covers sofas, dining tables and chairs, beds, sideboards, wardrobes, dressing tables, shelves… you name it, they’ve got it! I even saw a rather nice looking desk which would look great in my home office.

If you’re buying a bed, Continental Interiors can offer a wide range of mattresses from basic, right up to the amazing memory foam mattresses. If you’ve never slept on a memory foam mattress, you don’t know what you’re missing! A new line of electrically adjustable bed bases has just arrived, so just plug your mother-in-law in when she comes to stay!

Of particular note are the accessories. By incorporating a large selection of British Bedding, you can buy your sheets, duvets, duvet covers, pillows, pillow cases and even summer throws.

Of course, all of this is only any good if the prices are good. And I’m happy to report the prices really are VERY good. Most of the stock is at least 50% off the normal UK price and often more with the 1-off clearance lines. For example, where else can you get a dining suite comprising 4 leather chairs and a solid wood dining table for only 285 Euros! Other pricing includes: new mattress from 89 Euros, selection of slightly imperfect, all half of half price, new bed base single 55 Euros, double 75 Euros, king 79 Euros. New electric bed base from 435 Euros.

In summary, Continental Interiors really ‘does what it says on the tin’, top quality furniture at discount prices.

I recommend you pop along and take a look.

Open 6 days a week, on the N332 between Gata and Teulada (opposite the Repsol Petrol Station).

Continetal Intertiors, 966 469 277.

Jardin Escultorico

Anyone who has not yet visited the exhibition of Antonio Mari sculptures in Alfas del Pi should make it a priority. Of course an interest in the arts would help, and of course an interest in sculpture would be even better. But there again the setting and surroundings themselves present a living, organic experience that transcends human creation.

The Jardin Escultorico is run by Johanna Klein-Schreuder and Johannes Klein in El Cautivador. It presents a permanent sculpture exhibition in its beautifully-kept gardens in Cami del Pinar and also hosts regular special exhibitions, such as this one featuring Toni Mari.

This current show comprises works in iron by the Javea-born sculptor. His early works present charging bulls, symbols of life-force.

Later works concentrate on the human form, but animals and nature are never far away. Figures, both singly and in concert, are often more space than substance, belying the solidity of their material, their grace merging seamlessly into their surroundings.

A Good Shepherd towers above us as he marches across his meadow, his lunch-bag swinging at his side, no doubt full of the cheese of his sheep that follow him. Their fleece is soldered springs. His eager dog is welded plates.

Movements of a dance series present flowing ribbons of cloth that enclose mere air, whilst overall they present dynamic leaps of grace and delicacy.

And then there’s the permanent exhibition. It’s set in the grounds, an arboretum with an extensive rose garden.

Here human creativity blends with natural growing beauty. It’s an experience worthy of many repeat visits.

Jardin Escultorico is at Cami del Pinar 23, Alfas del Pi and the Toni Mari exhibition runs until the 6th of June.

See
www.klein-schreuder.com/
for further details and
opening times.