Tags

  • Published on

    Stovies!

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    ​I've just taken out our dinner, from the freezer, for tomorrow.  Before Linda left Gran Alacant, returning home to Scotland, she gave us some stovies.  To be honest, I had never heard of them before, so was interested to discover, just what they were. I found this recipe on 'The Hectic Cook'.  I know Linda will tell me if it's similar, the same or completely different.  It did look rather like Corned Beef Hash.  As the website stated, Stovies are good old fashioned comfort food, the kind of food I like!
     Ingredients (Serves 4 adults)
    about 10 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced 
    1 onion, finely chopped
    2 tbsp oil
    1 beef stock cube / stock pot
    1 beef oxo cube
    1 tin of corned beef, cubed
    salt & pepper
    You can find the recipe, by clicking on 'The Hectic Cook' link above.  I will let you know how the 'stovies' go down, tomorrow.  Thanks to Linda, for her generosity as usual!
    Picture
    Picture
  • Published on

    Back Home!

    no-wives-club Zest
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Andy finally flew in to Alicante for the summer on Sunday, the last of the 'No Wives Club' to come back to Spain. Only Pete is now out of the country, working abroad. It was a day of drinking at Zest, after picking Andy up from the airport, with Paul and Michele joining us in the afternoon and Dawn in the evening.  The weather was glorious in the main; it was lovely, sat in the sun chatting; nearly all of us back together in the same place.

    For myself and Darrell, the hard work starts now.  We have a mountain of paperwork to sort out for Darrell's Residencia, here in Spain. As readers are aware, I got my residents status on my Birthday, last year. Darrell however, chose not to; that was a bit of a mistake, one we are rectifying now.  The process however, is not easy and we have a lot of documents to sort out, before he can even apply for his green card. In order for everything to complete successfully, I have to obtain suitable employment, sooner rather than later now, so will be hoping to overcome this hurdle very soon.  Waiting is no longer an option for me; I need to do what ever is necessary, to secure our life in Spain. Important documents also have to be legalised.  These will include our Marriage certificate and possibly birth certificates.  The legalisation Office in Britain will legalise the documents by attaching a stamped official certificate (an ‘apostille’) to it.​
    Picture

    The Legalisation Office (UK)

    The whole process should take a few months to complete, then finally we will  both be legal in Spain. We do seem to spend our whole life, filling in forms, because of the relationship we have; that is something, that will continue for a lifetime.  This is just how it is, if you have a foreign partner, who is non EU; on top of that , Brexit will have its own problems, for our ability to stay in Spain.  Other factors that are aggravating the issues we are facing, include, Australia  not recognising gay Marriage and  Darrell's 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' visa, expiring once he has been out of the country, for two years. Added together, we have quite a few hurdles to overcome, still.

    We have a busy few months ahead, that's for sure. Hopefully we will finally be able to relax in a few months, when we have both overcome, all we need too, fingers crossed!
    Picture
    Picture
  • Published on

    Mayka's Kitchen!

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Myself and Darrell, went into Mayka's Kitchen, in Carabassi, this evening.  I have heard a lot of good reports, about the food, Mayka cooks and wanted to try it, for myself. I certainly wasn't disappointed, the Spanish cuisine is delicious, as is the service offered by Mayka and her staff. If you live in Gran Alacant and haven't been already, I can highly recommend Mayka's Kitchen; like me, you will have an enjoyable experience, returning time after time!
    Picture
    Picture
  • Published on

    Getting Back To Normal!

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    It does feel a bit strange having Darrell back after seven months, I have to say.  We have had a busy few days, getting back to relative normality.  After three days travelling, from Australia, Hong Kong, London and Madrid, Darrell is suffering with the effects of jet lag, but we did manage to pop out to Zest, with Katie and her Mother, Carol, yesterday evening and enjoy a few welcome home drinks.

    I have got used to my own space, so having someone else to consider is going to be a learning curve again, for me.  I had gotten used to eating and sleeping  when I want, but that has all changed, immediately.  It doesn't take too long, to get back into the swing of things; as I write this entry today, it does seem all rather customary again.

    Apart for Darrell throwing all his clothes everywhere, leaving towels on the floor, taking up all the bed, snoring at nights and generally being untidy, it is great to have him back.  Precious and Lily still don't realise who he is and are rather hesitant around him, but that will pass soon enough, as life gets back to the way it was!

    Thank you to everyone for all their messages at this time, they are a great source of support as usual.  All of you who contact and comment have got us through this rough patch, without which, we would have found this period even more arduous and burdensome. People's true colours always surface during tough times; true friends, are worth their weight in gold!
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
  • Published on

    Darrell Is Home!

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Darrell has arrived back home in Alicante, flying in from Madrid this afternoon. Glad to finally have him home; the hard work starts now!
    Picture
    Picture
  • Published on

    Brexit!

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    As a rule, I am very much in favour of the House of Lords; however these unelected Peers have decided to vote against the wishes of MP's and want the Government, to give an assurance, that EU members, currently living in Britain, will keep their rights to remain, after Brexit.

    Prime minister May, has already stated, she wishes to guarantee their rights, also; the big difference is, she wants, agreements in place, with other Countries, on the situation of British Expats, like myself, who live and work in Europe first.

    The Lords want to protect the rights of those living in the UK, yet they ignore the plight of  Expats, in the same position, living in Europe.

    ​They really should listen to people like myself, before they sell us down the river. Just because we no longer reside in Britain, it doesn't mean we don't have a voice.  We matter too!
    Picture