- Published on
-
-
- Published on
Insomnia, insomnia, the story of my life. I have always suffered with poor sleep. ever since I can remember. When I used to go to bed at night, I just could not switch off and shut down. Night time was the only period, I really had anytime to myself, so rather than fall asleep, I would just stay awake thinking, constantly mulling thoughts over in my head; thoughts about the day, what was happening tomorrow or about the future, in fact anything and everything!
I went to bed at about 1am, this morning, although I didn't really fall asleep to gone 4am. As usual I had a lot on my mind. I have various articles to finish for a number of publications, as well as some issues to do with our current circumstances, that need to be dealt with soon. I always keep a pen and paper by the side of my bed; if i wake up, I generally write thoughts and dreams down, using them at a later date, to help with decision making!
There have been different stages in my life, when the insomnia has been better and worse. I was on medication in the past, Mirtazapine and Quetiapine for sleep disorders; They tended not to work in the end. During my last year in The UK, I made a choice to give up my medication, as our plans to move to Spain, started to come to fruition. The process of coming off such a large dose, was difficult, but as I write this now, I can safely say it was worth it. You see, I actually quite enjoy being an insomniac. In the early hours of the morning, my mind, works on over drive. My imagination and thoughts surpass anything I have written or thought about during the day. The fact that the night is quiet and peaceful, is especially beneficial in Spain. If I was on medication, I don't feel, I would be as creative as I am now!
Dealing and managing insomnia, without medication, can be difficult. Being able to take a pill and just drift off to sleep, almost immediately is great. It is rather like turning a switch on and off, that appeals to me, but I know the option of takings meds in Spain is limited. The Spanish health system is very different to that of the British. Many of the conditions you are treated for, back home, just are not recognised. Depression, Manic Depression and other psychological illnesses, are not funded in the same way, so for me, giving up medication, was my only option. So far it has worked remarkably well.
Living in Spain, has taught me many things about life. You really do not have time to deal with the same issues, that you did, when living in The UK. At present, I do not suffer with depression, in the same way I did. The environmental changes, the change of lifestyle and the breathing exercises I take, work well. Most importantly, the people who caused my depression to get out of control, the ones that took advantage and the ones who were responsible for my relapse, are not around me. I have had many months to rebuild my life, in a way that does not involve, bad people.
Once I had made the choice to leave The UK, I spent the final period in Britain adjusting to my new, coming circumstances. The bulk of the hard work was done there: before even entering Spain. Back home, I was ill, more ill than I could ever remember. I was receiving advice from many different people, all the time. Official help, words of comfort from friends as well as destructive lies peddled by others. At the time, there was just too much fog in the way of the truth, so I was unable to tell the good from the bad. Now, finally settled in Gran Alacant, I can finally take a step back and decipher, what happened to me all those months ago, I keep my depression at bay and use my insomnia as time to think and reassess just what happened.
The fog has gradually cleared over time. Sat in my new home, without the haze of medication I was on, away from the smokescreen, that others put up, to prevent me seeing the truth, I have been able to finally come to the right conclusions. The answers you discover are not necessarily great for your state of wellbeing, but they are at least the correct words, the ones, others should have directed one to in the past. I am happier now, more than I have been for many years. I am sad my husband is not here with me, but I am glad I have been able to grapple with important issues, that had blighted me and my life for too long. Having solved many of them, learned to manage others and forget the rest, I can now try and get a grip on my insomnia. -
- Published on
Cut the cat's claws today. Lily is the most placid cat in the World and doesn't mind the attention at all. Precious on the other hand, wasn't having any of it. Still, all done now; no more scratches, for a while!
-
- Published on
I had absolutely no intention of going out on Sunday night., but Katie messaged to see if I fancied venturing out for a pint. I always know what a pint means, usually more than one, and probably many more.
Well that third pint at Zest, was just one too many, so after meeting Ben and walking him home, I ended up walking down the mountain, Heart Attack Hill, to Carabassi, to see Jamie.
As it happens, it turned out to be a pretty good night; spending time with Jamie, Sammi and others down the strip, until the early hours, finally getting home at 6.30am.
The best nights are the ones you never plan and although my head was banging this morning, it was worth it!
-
- Published on
-
- Published on
Prices
I have written about shopping in Spain before; now that I have been living here a while, I thought I would write an update. My shopping habits have changed greatly, since moving to Gran Alacant; they had too. In The UK, I spent far too much money anyway. Not only of groceries, but everything else inbetween. My habits were wasteful and not something I wish to repeat in future.
Roughing it is good for the soul. The lack of money or access to credit, takes one back to an altogether simpler time. Spain still hasn't caught up with the rest of the world, where shopping is concerned. The majority of shops, do not take credit or debit cards; everybody here uses cash! There is a distinct lack of choice, not only in supermarkets, but also other shops. Shops do not compete against one another, so equally, prices of items vary dramatically. So as people, with time on our hands, we tend to shop around, for the best deals!
Myself and Katie purchased the shopping in Lidl on Sunday, as we usually do, but due to the lack of British products, we also went to Dialprix, where they have an abundance of products from The UK, all at inflated prices of course. There are obviously certain items from home that I just can't live without. Marmite is the main one, although at 3.29€ for the smallest jar, it isn't cheap. I also love my gravy; gravy really does seem to be a difficult thing to get hold of here. You can always find it in the exotic British food section of Dialprix. Bisto is expensive, at 2.15€, but like Marmite, I just can't live without it!
Baked Beans, another British staple. I used to eat loads of them in The UK, but in Spain I literally can't afford them. At 2.19€ for a can of Heinz, they can keep it. Everything British is expensive to be honest, from chocolate to sauces, PG Tips and Robinsons Barley water. So when you are on a limited income, you tend to avoid most of them and concentrate on eating as The Spanish do!
Most other things are a lot cheaper in Spain. Bread for example, which Jamie eats like it's gone out of fashion, can cost as little as 70c a loaf. The bread is different to that back home; it is smaller and has a slightly sweeter taste. Anything locally produced is unquestionably cheaper. I have brought 8 litres of locally produced wine, for 7€, and it tastes wonderful. 12 eggs cost 1.25€, probably about half the price it is in Britain.
Meat does seem to be exceptionally cheap in Spain, up to half the price, we would pay in the UK. Two large pork chops in Dialprix cost 1.40€. Dialprix does seem to be much better value for meat and bread anyway. Some supermarkets are cheaper than others, for different things. Dialprix, also has the best range of British products, catering, as it does, for a large expat community. Unide, my local supermarket, also has a large range of items from the home country, although prices are much more expensive.
Wastage
I wanted to say a few short paragraphs about wastage. For the first time in my life, I have learned to waste nothing. This is the Spanish way; everything is used, all leftovers are frozen and reheated at a later date.
I have of course had to change my cooking and eating habits; no bad thing to be honest. I cook up far more than myself and Jamie eat and freeze down everything else that is left. I have not thrown food away since I first moved to GA.
Money is tight, as a consequence you do learn to adapt to your new circumstances. You often live hand to mouth; not something I am used too, but something I am embracing. It is a learning curve for me, a new experience and a worthwhile exercise in life building skills. Britain has forgotten, much of what we practice here and that is a shame.
You have to remember that, as an expat, you have no access to public funds. There are no benefits for the likes of me, so you have to either work or starve. Since wages are much lower, than those of the UK; jobs are few and far between and we are now heading into the winter, money is tight. You have to make do with what you have and do your best with very little. Actually, it's all a very uplifting experience!Spanish Ways
I was talking to a friend of mine at Sierra Mar Square last week, about shopping and they said what every other person says in Spain. As long as you shop as the Spanish do, you can't go wrong. Shop locally and seasonally, use the local markets and above all shop around for the best deals. There is a lot less choice in Gran Alacant, the luxuries you take for granted in Britain are very expensive here. The shelves are stacked with far healthier products and prices are generally cheaper. My grocery bill in the UK was about 160€ a week, now I spend about 60€. I have made radical changes, not only to my budget, but also the things I buy. I still haven't mastered, everything to do with shopping, but I am getting there. In time I will be as economical as my Spanish friends, until then I'll just keep persevering!
