// no date available for the event, set the date to "unavailable"
                        if(the_date.contains("00"))
                    {
                            the_date = "Unavailable";
                    }
                        else
                        {
                            // convert date format to dd/mm//yyyy
                            String year = the_date.substring(0, 4);
                            String month = the_date.substring(5, 7);
                            String day = the_date.substring(8, 10);
                            the_date = day + "/" + month + "/" + year;
                        }