Breaking records. Offering hope and help. Walk For Life (Carerra Por La Vida) made a triumphant return with over 5,500 walkers collecting 33,000 euros to further raise awareness about the fight against breast cancer. The recent unpredictable weather could´t keep the throngs of people away from the Siam Mall starting point on Sunday morning, and the skies responded with sunshine.

Some favourite costumes were dusted off after the two years when Covid prevented the big gathering, and many new outfits took a bow. This year the local based pioneers were joined by 21 countries via the combined charities of Think Pink Europe. There are always new questions and new developments to discuss. Walk For Life has always been approachable and supportive through its Pink Room in Adeje and its website, early diagnosis is still the most potent protection in the fight.

Positivity burst forth from the walkers as they started the 3.5 km stroll down to the sea front at Playa de Las Americas, and then on through close to Los Cristianos and its beaches. Carnaval drums and dancers kept up a lively tempo as participants proudly honoured the names of family and friends lost to cancer. For nearly two hours the wave meandered at a pace to suit all ages and even a few pets that joined in.

As the heat increased, free water and bananas fuelled the pink line, and this year there were also free buses to return people to the starting point after they crossed the finish line. Everyone was treated as a winner as the pink and white cascade of paper welcomed walkers to the big stage for the keenest to dance and celebrate.

What a great day, a big thanks to those who make the event so slick and well organised. Thoughts will already be turning to next year, its a hard act to follow but they will rise to the challenge as always.

Weakened at the knees by football´s current femme fatal, the penalty spot. Enric Gallego made amends with a 2-0 strike that withstood a Alaves rally. Expecting to retake top spot in Spain´s Second Division, Alaves found hosts CD Tenerife in defiant and creative mood as they outplayed the visitors for most of the game.

Ivan Romero was always ready to strike from the shadow of the target man, Gallego, and Waldo gave good support on the left. The big centre forward should have learned from the World Cup follies when he was brought down and rose to take the penalty on the half hour. It was a straight soft shot that barely tickled  keeper Silvera.

Team mate Teto took some attention of the big man a few minutes later as he reacted well to a loose ball, turned well and buried it in the corner of the net to take the lead. There was even redemption for the man himself five minutes into the second half, determination carried him through and this time he showed no mercy. A 2-0 lead still left Alaves with some hope, Aitor Sanz and Sipcic in particular worked hard to squeeze them down, and it seemed to be working.

Sub Sylla came on hungry and sniffed out a half chance, looping a shot past home keeper Soriano after 81 minutes. It made for a nervous end but Tenerife held firm. Alaves never gave up, Duarte shaved a post, but it was a happy ending to the 100th game in charge for coach Ramis.

The league is a harsh judge of resurgent form and reborn hope, the final two pre christmas league games will need to pull in some more points. The Santa Cruz crowd also need their confidence rebuilding, another drop to  a 6,794 attendance came after weeks of under achieving. As a stand alone game this was good to watch and a tonic for bruised pride after recent cave ins. Now in 14th place, Tenerife can at least hope to reach higher with a new President and a few tweaks to the squad in the January window.

With an almost hypnotic pull, the coast of Tenerife attracts a diverse range of visitors. Any of them popping into Amarilla Golf Marina will be pleased with the facelift that combines rest areas, childrens play zones, cycle lanes, and a clean, modern look.

Just a year since my last call, the transformation made a big difference. It was surely no conincidnce that the floating pontoons had more pleasure crafts and yachts in the water, plus more business units on the quay side offering a wider range of hire options with plenty of thrill rides.

The shoring up of the banking wall that shadows the golf course, added to the neat look with its white stone, it reflects well on the golf course as well, and presents a prettier wider picture. This first upgrade stage cost nearly one million euros, there´s more to come, extending the good work in a western direction. That should promote the walking options around the coast from Las Galletas and then onward to El Medano.

Looking down toward the airport and Montaña Roja (red mountain) improvements to the shingle and rock beach of Playa San Salvador has another six months to go. At present, a looping uphill detour to the promenade must put a few people off from visiting the cafes and bars along the strip. The marina has set a shining example of how to improve the area. I look forward to seeing the full stretch soon.

Grapes of all sizes, colours, and varieties formed a maze around me in the heart of Tegueste, one of the smallest municipalities in Tenerife. A series of walks shadowed the water channels that made this such a fertile spot for its founders in 1813.

Having just hopped off a Titsa bus from La Laguna to Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo, I had already been distracted by the hills that shelter the original village and have fed its growth. Even the football ground of UD Tegueste has its claim to fame as the starting point for Barcelona and Spain star Pedri. There was further proof of the local sporting pedigree in the form of a statue of two grappling wrestlers, a homage to Lucha Canarias, a popular sport in the seven Canary Islands.

The finca Los Zamorano spread out beyond me with its promise of free strolling around the vineyards, and their well documented range of grapes made me feel quite thirsty. Opposite the Mercadillo provided an outlet for many local wines and products but I was a few days adrift of its opening times of 8am to 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. It was early in the growing season but the vast layout and photos of the spread gave me a good idea of the rich bounty of the region.

The heart of Tegueste was visible beyond with the white tower of the church providing a focal point to lead me to Plaza San Marcos. History is preserved in the nearby cultural centre, the Ayuntamiento (town hall) and will be added to soon with a new centre of archaeology. Among the tranquility there was a pride and desire to share the history and culture of the area. Walking is encouraged over several short routes, the main one covering 2 kms up to the Barranco Aqua de Dios (ravine of the water of the gods) and back through the village as a teaser for other longer walks leading down to the rugged La Laguna coast.

One visit always sows seeds for a follow up, I will be trying a few of the trails, and just down below on the main bus route is Tejina, but that´s for another day.

While last seasons loan player Mollejo had a lively return on the right for Real Zaragoza, it was another ex loanee Valentin Vada who destroyed hosts CD Tenerife with the only two goals of the game. Tenerife couldn´t complain, they were poor all over the pitch. The home defence was creaky, particularly left back Nacho who was continually exposed by the smart thinking yellow and blacks with their neat passing and cool finishing. Zaragoza had some luck on their side, after their goalie Alvarez had two bad cases of poor juggling from Tenerife shots in the first half.

Vada did little to impress last season in Santa Cruz, on loan from Almeria and got a free transfer to Zaragoza this summer and was buzzing in this Friday night game. Ivan Romero missed a sitter for the home cause, hitting the side of the netting, and Mo Dauda showed flashes of skill down the left flank but Tenerife seemed to run out of ideas as the game wore on.

Vada anticipated wonderfully for the opener after 23 minutes, latching onto a deep cross, and when he doubled the agony after 67 minutes there were streams of home fans deserting the stadium. At least another youth prospect, Alassan, got a run out with 18 minutes left but it was painful to watch and by the final whistle those remaining from the 11,443 crowd vented their frustration at the players and the negative tactics of coach Ramis. Now in 14th position, pressure is growing on the coach after this horror show.

Quality opponents coming off a 5-0 win, Granada might have seen CD Tenerife as easy prey but it was the Santa Cruz team that showed the hunger, the eye for goal, and the pride in a comfortable 2-0 home win.

Changes are almost a foregone conclusion under coach Ramis, but they worked well this week with Aitor Sanz and Javi Alonso running a tight ship in midfield.  Juan Soriano was immense between the sticks for Tenerife, he was solid behind the ball and frusrated the divisions top scorer, Uzani, with first half stops with feet, knees, and head. The keeper even turned provider with a 31st minute long punt upfield to Ivan Romero, who muscled past two defenders for the opening goal.

Mo Dauda was a constant menace to Granada and 20 minutes into the second half he was shaping up in front of goal when the visiting goalie chopped him down in the box. Gallego stepped up to double the damage and deny Granada any lingering hope. There was further good news when Elady made a return from injury. The squad all worked hard for the common cause, and that instilled greater appreciation from the fans.

After the final whistle, the Tenerife team surged towards the 11,472 crowd to soak up the applause. That win pushed the team up to 12th position, eyes are certainly looking upward now, anything is possible on this form.

Well The defence was tighter and ensured a 0-0 home draw for CD Tenerife v Cartagena. Coach Ramis continued to ring the changes with Aitor Buñuel (right) and Andoni Lopez (left) starting in the full back slots. But the players that made way for them, Nacho and ultra consistent Mellot were back in their old roles within the hour. The constant tinkering is coming under the spotlight at the team struggles to put any prolonged form together.

Cartagena were revelling in their surprise status of third place. Home keeper Soriano had to be alert and agile to repel Borja Valle after the defence failed to cover the gap. Sipcic was magnificent at the heart of home defence, and Larrea was a quality playmaker in the middle of the park. It all ground to a halt in front of goal with Garces and Romero both struggling to cash in on the set ups from Appiah, and his later replacement Mo Dauda. The Ghana winger clipped the post with a rasping shot as frustration built.

Cartagena had their own hero in goalie, Escandell but were left to regret twice putting the ball in the Tenerife net – after straying into offside positions. Tenerife need to string a few wins together to get into the top half of the table and should be exploiting their home games. The crowd was up again, a bunper 12,180 turnout on an evening  of  extreme rain and sunshine but it´s the changing climate of the coach´s selections that are putting a few clouds in the Santa Cruz sky.

Waves of people poured downhill towards the sea with the statue of the Virgen de Las Mercedes de Roja held aloft. Cascades of drums, pipes, and guitars formed a musical undertow and barbecues sizzled with a meaty aroma that required beer and wine to soothe its digestion.

El Medano on the Granadilla coast of Tenerife savours its fishing founders whilst thanking nature for its continuing bounty. The precarious balance of nature meant the 2022 fiesta was put back a week as incoming storms licked at the Canary Islands The extra week allowed fine tuning on the 45 home made boats based on shopping trolleys and small trucks. White costumes dominated the days fashion, hats were welcome in the searing heat but dancing feet made light work of pavements and eventually the fine sand of Playa Grande.

Some held back to dance in the main plaza overlooking the sea, but a large invasion from the 15,000 or so revellers took the show to the gently sweeping waves. Guests like the Fanfarria band from La Orotava in the north, matched the music of the ocean. One of the biggest fishing boats was loaded with the statue of the virgen for the best seat in the house to watch the day flow on.

Tourists flying over to the nearby sourh airport would have been staggered if they could see the swirling mass of people below. Fishing is a tough way of life but this outpouring of joy and pride is generously shared with the wider community. The lines are already being baited for next years flotilla of home made boats.

Hermano Pedro (the Canary Islands only saint) rested on his crook outside the Arona Town Hall,home of the Ayuntamiento (council) as stalls and memories of a proud agricultural past started to fill the back streets. It was three years on from the last Dia de Tradiciones as I stepped off the first of the free buses from Tenerife´s southern tourist resorts of Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos.

Wine, cigars, beer, and home made wool and textile products vied for attention on the sparse mix of stalls. There were only 12 people on my free bus, it was going to be a tough sell in the back streets. The centre of attention was the plaza del Santisimo Cristo de La Salud and around the church. Musicians tuned up and animals stirred in readiness to deliver that cute factor. It wasn´t just crafts and animals that caught the eye, a vintage local police car looked dainty and a large Ford Thames Transit lorry, made in Dagenham, added to the mechanical history.

The Casa de la Bodega looked majestic  on the rise above the town, and the wine press was a reminder of the outstanding reputation of local wines. A practical demonstration of Silbo, the whistling language still used on the neighbouring island of La Gomera, was dramatic and impressive. Regular live music through the day until late into the evening seemed certain to help build the crowds, but my visit was only to be a brief one.

It was great to see the event back but sad to see such a low early turnout. The Plaza de la Paz at the bus drop off point had been a big display area at previous shows but was empty this time. Pre publicity for the event was too late and too limited. Arona town promotes its history all year round with posters of former times and key figures on murals. A group of modern performers seemed to step out of the sepia wall print down by the bus stops. The Casa de la Bodega doubles up as a free exhibition centre and is open weekdays. It´s well worth a trip up to look at the heart of Arona, many keen walkers have alredy discovered its secrets on route to the magnificent Roque del Conde mountain that towers over the town.

Even with three strong penalty claims not even referred to VAR, CD Tenerife were again their worst enemy in a 1-1 home draw with Real Sporting Gijon.

Just 15 minutes into the rain lashed action, Cristo Gonzalez was gifted the opening goal for Sporting. A long ball should have been cut out by Jose Leon but he committed the cardinal sin of turning his back on the attacker. The former Tenerife nurtured player was left with a simple, clear shot. These days an asset of Italian club Udinese, Cristo is on his fourth loan out and can´t have come across such generosity on his travels.

The home attack was off song with play continually drifting down the left side. Ivan Romero looked lightweight in front of goal as big built Gallego hung back deep. Young Teto chased and harried to pick up scraps on the right. Tenerife were better in the second half with more expansive football but Sporting had a tight clamp on them. Confidence was sapped as the ref ignored those appeals, the worst being a double hand ball as Teto burst through into the enemy goal mouth. A double change after 68 minutes saw home coach Ramis bring on Arvin Appiah for Romero and Javi Alonso for Larrea in midfield.

The return of local boy Alonso after long term injury breathed new creativity into the heart of the home team, something they will need as Alex Corredera undergoes treatment and possible surgery on his foot. Appiah tormented Sporting with his speedy right flank runs and inside charges. The former Nottingham Forest youth player launched a trio of strikes into the box, one was cleared into space where Nacho returned it quickly with a rasping shot past the goalie to level the game with just over 10 minutes left.

With eight games gone, Tenerife are still making too many errors and sit in 15th position. The fans are showing patience and belief, even on a soaking night, the gate was slightly up with a 11,057 attendance.