Archive for the ‘Editorials’ Category

This month I’m going to talk about the internet, especially the social media craze swamping the world via websites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Linked In.

If you have a business (yes, even a small or new business) now’s the time to think about how you can monetise it through the use of social media and the internet in general.

The entire world market has opened up since the introduction of the internet in the 1980s. People are able to inform others about their business with the click of a button, even if they live on the other side of the world. With every year that passes, it becomes easier and easier to take advantage of the internet and boost your income, dramatically in many cases.

Social networking sites are by far the most effective place to start, as they’re not only free and fun to use, but once you’ve been shown the key steps, it’s a simple method to employ. In fact, even a five-year-old child could follow along….it really is that simple!

Recently, as some of you may know, I set up a writing and publishing business called The Word Queen. I’ve been using some tried and tested internet secrets to gain global interest and I’m happy to say that my efforts have paid off and the results are phenomenal. Every other day I get new clients on board, to help improve their books, coach them through the book-writing journey, improve their marketing efforts, or consider their manuscripts for publication.

Now I’d like to help readers and advertisers of The Sentinella do the same with their businesses.

If you’d like to take advantage of a free phone conversation to see whether I can help your business take its monthly income through the roof, please email info@thesentinella.com with ‘free phone call’ in the subject line.

I’m not suggesting that my plan will work for every business that exists, but it’ll certainly provide extra income for many. And if you happen to be an expert in a particular field (even if that field happens to be your favourite hobby) then you qualify too. You don’t need to operate a ‘business’ as such.

However, as there’s only one of me, I’m only able to work with a select few people at any one time. This means I have to be brutally honest and choose to work with only those who I KNOW will benefit the most.

So send me an email, we’ll arrange a phone chat at a mutually convenient time, and I’ll follow-up with a report to let you know if and how I’m able to help.

Imagine if this time next year you’re earning an extra 500€, 1,000€ or even 5,000€ plus a month? Worth a quick email? You decide!

To your success

Keidi Keating
Editor
The Sentinella

If you’re looking for somewhere to spend the day with your family this summer then I’d recommend the La Concepcion Botanical Gardens, close to Malaga City.

I spent some time there recently with Kami, Tony and family, who many of you will know from their roles running this magazine.

If you’re a tree fan you’ll be in your element, but those who prefer flowers may feel slightly disappointed, as trees definitely rule the roost! There’s even a special section called ‘Around The World in 80 Trees’ featuring 80 trees from across the globe. If you actually stop at each tree and study it, then you can see how they look different from ordinary trees.

I was certainly in my element at the gardens, mainly because of the abundance of frogs. I make no secret of the fact that I simply ADORE frogs. Not in the way that I’d like to plant wet ones on their cheeks (although if they turned into handsome prices I might consider it….), but simply to watch them be. They jump around from lily pad to pond without a care in the world…what a life hey?! The froggys were also the highlight of the day for my two nieces, Charli and Leoni. They loved playing ‘spot the frog’ then throwing small twigs their way to scare them into jumping (teehee!)

Our little clan involved five adults, two children, a buggy and a wheelchair. This meant we could only stick to certain areas and we couldn’t go gallivanting beyond the trees, or up steep hills. But the children had great fun riding on the back of the wheelchair while Daddy pushed them along, and the buggy proved a great storage system for heavy bags.

We visited the gardens on an especially hot day so the sprinkler water system proved a real treat as we all ran through it to cool down…and there were plenty of stray lemons to quench our thirsts!

But the best part of all was when we saw a tree dedicated to this magazine. Yes, the ‘centinela tree’, which towered above most of the other trees in the gardens. It’s ashame they mis-spelt it, but hey, it’s the thought that counts! Why not see if you can spot it if you get the chance to visit La Concepcion?  

It’s also worth noting that there are picnic benches in the gardens and a delightful café serving drinks, snacks and a selection of light meals. There’s also a gift shop, where you can purchase cute little memories of your day.

For more info including directions visit their website at www.laconcepcion-ayto-malaga.es, call 952 252 148.

 Keidi Keating, Editor

Have you ever had one of those months where everything happens at once and you suddenly realise huge truths about yourself and your purpose here on Earth? Well that’s exactly the kind of month I’ve had! Along with learning a very powerful form of meditation called the MerKaBa, which is based around the Flower of Life and stems from the Melchizedek consciousness, I’ve also experienced lucid dreaming, carrying some very powerful personal messages. In addition to all this I’m about to embark on an exciting journey and receive the nine shamanic energy rites of the Munay Ki to become ‘homo luminoso’ in preparation for 2012.

The year 2012 is a huge milestone for the Earth and humanity. Unless you’ve been living under a rock you probably already know that the Mayan’s, along with many other religions, predicted a ‘rebirth’ in 2012. Already we are experiencing more natural disasters than ever before and even in our individual lives huge changes are occurring. The amount of ‘theories’ about what will happen in 2012 and in particular on December 21st, 2012 (the date that the Mayan calendar ends) is unbelievable. I recently did an internet search and discovered theories ranging from ‘the bee deaths theory’ right the way through to ‘the Egyptian theory’. One website I found particularly useful (from an informative rather than a trusted point of view) is www.the2012theories.com – log and take a good look around.

If you’re interested in learning more about 2012 and what it means to us, planet Earth and the universe in general, then I’d encourage you to attend Richard Waterborn’s upcoming workshop, which explores the subject in greater depth. Richard has been studying 2012 for more than 20 years, looking at the scientific, metaphysical and spiritual aspects of this historic year. For more details of his workshop email rwaterborn@eircom.net or call him via the contact details on his website www.richardwaterborn.com

On a lighter note, the World Cup kicks off this month and football fans across the globe are getting set to see goals galore. Check out the bars and restaurants advertised in this edition, all of which are offering great deals on food and drinks throughout the games.

Sun worshipers also look set to have a good month – the weather always warms up in June and sunny weather is guaranteed. In fact if we don’t have hot and sunny weather every day throughout June then I’ll eat my hat!

Until next month…

Keidi Keating, Editor

At last, after months of driving the roads of Spain illegally, a Spanish driving license is on its way into my glove compartment!

English people can usually get away with using an English driving license, even if they have taken residency in Spain. But if the photocard expires (like mine did five months ago), then that’s when problems can arise.

I no longer have a UK address so I had to be honest and admit that I was now a resident in Spain. The DVLA staff told me they couldn’t do anything more and that I’d have to seek assistance from the Spanish authorities. Pah!

And like many things of an ‘official’ nature in Spain, that wasn’t an easy task. Firstly, I rang the trafico department, who told me they couldn’t help. Then I rang a couple of other trafico-related people who said they couldn’t help either. More like they didn’t WANT to help…!

In the end I had no choice but to go directly to the trafico office in Malaga City with a bag-full of every document they might ask for.

And fortunately it all went surprisingly well. I had to pay 26€ for tax and 30€ for a medical certificate, which involved a fake eye sight test, a blood pressure check and a reflex test which involved having my knees banged with something that looked like a hammer. I also had to fill in a few forms….And that was pretty much it.

The man behind the desk said someone would call me within a few weeks and then I can return to collect my new driving license. Whoooopeeee!

With my driving problem solved I then had to sort out my mortgage payments. As interest rates have dropped substantially within the last six months I knew I could shop around for a better mortgage than my current bank offered. In fact the new mortgage is so much better that it works out that I pay about half of what I paid before. Want to know the bank in question? Email me to find out!

So for me, April was very much a month of finding solutions and taking action. And this month is totally choc-a-block with new ventures and exciting projects. All I need now is for the sun to come out and stay out!!

Until next month…

Keidi
Editor

It has been some time since I wrote about England, but I couldn’t resist this month, largely because I have just returned from a four-day mini-break there.

However, what I preconceived as a ‘break’ turned into a bitingly cold, stress-ridden chore.

My first two days were spent in London. I had a couple of errands to run, which I had wrongly assumed would take very little time. Half-way there, engulfed by rush-hour commuters at all angles, I felt the stress surge and flashbacks of my ‘previous life’ working a 9-5.30 JOB (Just Over Broke) in the West End, burst into my brain.

When I finally left the train and welcomed the coldness as it flooded my stuffy body, I saw a sea of human bodies, some flowing towards the exit, others ebbing in the direction of the underground. I inhaled a huge breath of air and set off towards the metro, desperately trying not to step on the heels of the people in front of me, while receiving regular elbow jabs and bag pokes from those on either side.

The time was 8.35am. In Spain I would just be pulling up my blinds to let in the early morning sun rays, before settling leisurely on my balcony with a fresh juice and a bowl of porridge. Yet here I was, in what seemed like a completely different world; like hell as opposed to heaven. I glanced behind and noticed that everyone looked like zombies; solemn faces, grey hair, pasty skin, a tired swagger with every step.

The tube journey was no different. It was only two stops, but in that short time I noticed each zombie vacuumed into their newspapers reading about soul-destroying subjects such as war, famine, death and destruction.

I ended up spending the entire day in London, unfortunately joining the rush hour crowd on their return leg home at 6.30pm. By this time the once-solemn faces now wore scowls, accompanied by grey pockets of exhaustion. I found myself staring into eyes which had no spark, no shimmer of joy, only shreds of despair.

Then it hit me that most of these people would repeat this monotonous existence for five consecutive days each week for the rest of their lives. In essence this was their life. They were trapped on the hamster wheel of reality, the Matrix.

And as I sat on that train back to the flat where I was staying I closed my eyes and thanked the universe whole-heartedly for my life in Spain, the sun, the laughter, this great little magazine and everything else which made up my current reality.

And to all those who live in Spain and enjoy a life away from the rat-race; the competitiveness, materialism, ego and stress, I would suggest you do the same. We all have such a lot to be thankful for…

Keidi Keating
Editor

Finally we can announce that our new website is officially launched!

The new design is cleaner and clearer and content is now updated at least twice a week, so there’s always something new and interesting to read.

You’ll find a comprehensive list of all the services we offer, plus our range of advertising options, including in the magazine(s), on our newsletter and on our websites.

You’ll also be able to read up on The Sentinella Business Opportunity, now with four different entry levels starting from just 4,500GBP. Remember there’s still the chance to join The Sentinella family and launch the little mag in the regions of Granada, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Almeria and Murcia, plus further flung destinations practically anywhere in the world (within reason)!

New features will appear on the website within the months ahead, including The Sentinella Shop, Business Directory and more.

You can also access all The Sentinella sub-sites from our main home page and you’ll soon be able to flick through each of the latest editions online – including Axarquia, Costa West, Costa Tropical and Malaga.

We are actively looking for articles and features to add to our website, so if you have any ideas, or if you are holding any special events, etc, please email us with the details.

Due to the launch we are now accepting web advertisements on the new site, which range from 200€-500€ for a six month period. For an exact quote email sales@thesentinella.com stating the page and site which you would like to advertise on.

As I write this month’s editorial the rain is intermingled with strong gusts of wind, and the outlook is one of total gloom. I feel like opening the door and screaming at it: “Rain, rain, go away and don’t come back until I say!”

I suspect I’m not alone in wishing for the first glimmers of spring sun and that milestone beach day, when we can start to re-boost our flagging tans.

Let’s all pray that the April editorial will be drenched in sun-dipped kisses and spring-time hugs…

Keidi x

PS. Remember you can now read The Sentinella Axarquia edition online. Click here!