In the past I have written about WomenWorks, which is a network of women living and working on the Costa Tropical. One of the founders, Glen Ladeggard has decided to move back to her native home, Australia, this summer.

(We’ll miss you Glen!) However, she has encouraged the group to carry on without her and to continue with their monthly meetings, workshops, talks and social gatherings. One of the challenges was finding a new online platform for the women to join and connect with each other.

Previously, WomenWorks was established on Ning – a software platform for social networks. However, the Ning platform was closed due to Glen leaving. In the interim, a temporary WomenWorks group was set up on Facebook. As of July 23rd, all members have been invited and encouraged to sign up on the new WomenWorks site on another social networking site called Xing.

It is free to sign up and the website is https://www.xing.com/net/womenworks. You will be required to set up a profile (just as was required on the old Ning site), but you can start with an abbreviated version. New members are always welcome.

The next meeting will take place on Wed. Sept 7th at 11:00 am (venue to be confirmed later). Sheila Martin, the WomenWorks steering lady, will be conducting a workshop on Internet Marketing. Also, she will be giving a brief overview of the Xing site so everyone can get signed up.

Another event to mark in your calendars is the Mind Body Spirit gathering on Saturday Sept. 10th from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Boatyard Bar, Playazo Beach in Nerja. For maps and directions, see www.boatyardbar.com. There will be plenty on offer in the field of natural health and healing, therapies, jewelry, organic vegetables, essential oils etc.

Also on Sat. Sept. 10th, Renate van Nijen, who has been an internationally exhibited artist for over 25 years, will hold the inauguration of her art exhibition at 8:00 p.m. at the Civic Center in La Herradura. It will be a retrospective exhibition of her artwork. However, it will also be the launch of her newest book “Cheers” the hidden voices of alcoholism. Check out her website at www.renartsbookworld.com.

The Almuñécar International Womens Group will have the next planning meeting after the summer break on Sat. Sept. 24th at 11:00 at Hotel Arrayannes. This group meets for coffee on the second Saturday of every month at Bar Pinball in Almuñécar and has planning meetings on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Any women who are interested in joining this social group are encouraged to come to the coffee meetings. The group arranges various weekly and monthly events, activities and outings. They have an Art Group, which is quite new and has proven to be very popular. The next Art Day will be on Thurs. Oct. 6th at 11:00 a.m. Venue to be confirmed.

There is also talk of a Photography Day to take place in November. The group also has a book club and a gardening club among others. The best way to meet the lovely ladies in this group, and to find out more about the many activities they arrange, is simply to attend one of the meetings. To receive their monthly newsletter, you can contact them by e-mail at: almunecarwomensgroup@googlemail.com.