About

Terms of reference - refreshed 25 may 2017

I thought it was about time, I updated the aims of my blog, ‘Spanish Views’. It makes sense to update the terms of reference now and again, to clarify to ones readership, just what this blog is all about. This is a detailed explanation, rather than a mission statement.

I started blogging in 2015, after an illness, brought about by bullying in the workplace. I began writing ‘Bipolarcoaster’, encompassing the trials and tribulations of dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar. At the time I was experiencing turbulent times, working for the large international charity, Oxfam. My second blog ‘Forever Enduring Cycles,’ details recovery from illness and coming to terms with what happened to me, during my time at this charity.

In December 2015, I began writing my third and current blog ‘Spanish Views.’ This blog documents my new life in Spain, after leaving the UK, to start a new life, away from the memories of the past. Living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca, I write about daily life in this little part Valencia. As a writer, I include articles from my column ‘Chatter,’ written for a local magazine; as well as a one stop shop, for readers to buy my books, currently on sale, at Amazon.

‘Spanish Views’, also references my struggle, campaigning to bring Oxfam to account for allowing the bullying of myself and others, to go unchecked.

The bullying I experienced, ultimately made me decide to move to Spain and remains a large part of my life. ‘Spanish Views’ compares and contrasts two different lives; one in the UK, one in Spain, brought together, through adverse times. My new home has helped aid recovery and allowed me to finally live the life, I would have chosen; fulfilling dreams, pursuing ambitions, goals and aspirations, stored away until now!

‘Spanish Views’ is written as a diary, a personal account of my time, living in Gran Alacant. It aims to discuss the issues important to my friends and neighbours who live here, referencing my life in the UK, as and when appropriate, as I continue to wrestle the ghosts of the past, in order to move towards an untried and as yet untested future.

Old Life, New Life!

We left out life in Southampton, through adverse times, we hope to start our life, here in Spain on a positive note. The past is the past, we will of course remember, with fondness, the good times, will learn from the bad and move forward with hope, towards new horizons and dreams, with a smile, sunny outlook and with the knowledge, we are free of all those, that were the cause of pain in the past!

Tweets by @TruthBlogger2

Well, here we are, lost in Europe, having moved here, after the most traumatic Bipolar relapse, I have ever experienced. Giving up ones life in the UK, after such a terrible time, was never a difficult decision, to make. It makes you realise your own mortality.

The memories were too strong, vivid and painful, living in The UK. A choice was made and here we are. Ex Pats, living on the Costa's, after the biggest fight of our lives!

The biggest difficulty for us, was leaving family and friends behind.

We are no spring chickens, so for us, the move was extra hard. Stability and security are a priority, when you get to our age, so this 'BIG ADVENTURE' is particularly scary. Only time will tell, if we have done the right thing.

Moving forwards

So what of the future? Well. who knows. For us now. life is about living and not about letting others control your very existence. We will survive, we have suffered times like this before and I am sure we will again, but we will overcome them.

There is no going back now, no going back to The UK. That chapter of our life has finished. For us, the future is about moving forward, to wherever life takes us.

We hope to give Spain, the time it deserves. We are talking years here, not months. Eventually, we would both like to retire to Australia, Darrell's native home, but at the moment, there is a whole world to see and we are going to do our best to see it!