Darren Light - Roaming Brit Blog

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Published on

June 13, 2016

Orlando Shootings!

I was at work all day yesterday, so didn't find out about the Orlando killings, until early this morning. As I watched the BBC World News, now, from Spain, I am aware that at least 53 people have been killed by Omar Mateen, a radicalised Muslim from Afghanistan, who was resident in The United States. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the shootings, the worst mass shooting in American history. Innocent people were gunned down at The Pulse Nightclub, in Orlando, a large gay venue in the city.

Mass killings have always taken place and I have been an arm chair witness to many. Each one as shocking as the last. These killings in Orlando are different, A minority group of gay people, targeted by a religious group, pure and simply because of their sexuality.

I have always been anti religion. I dislike Islam, because of the way it treats homosexuals, women, indeed anyone who is different to them. As I watched the news, with horror, at what I was witnessing, Omars father issued a statement. His words were telling. He spoke about only God judging gays for their behaviour, whilst condemning his son for taking other peoples lives. It was clear from the interview, Omars father was anti gay and was just another reason, why his son had attacked and killed these innocent victims in this nightclub.

Most Muslims are anti gay, however you try to gloss over that fact. They dislike who we are and could not care less if we live or die. That is the reality and that is something I have faught to change all my life. For too long, nations have put religious rights, over and above human rights. We build Mosques and allow religious practices, that are alien to us, in the West, to take place. Islam preaches hate towards not only people like me, but also many other innocent people, just living their lives, as they were born to do, yet we continue to allow this to happen, we allow these dreadful tragedies to transpire, because we do nothing to stop the hatred.

Western Countries are so scared of causing offence towards religious groups, that we allow them to continue preaching hate. The type of people who attend these Mosques and churches, listening to vile words of abhorrence and resentment, absord these teachings, as drones, through coercive persuasion. Parents, Imams, leaders and radical groups are all responsible for this terrible tragedy in Orlando. As people, we must all start to stand up to these lunatics, Speaking out is a good place to start. Do not give religion the excuse it needs to spew bigotry into peoples lives.

For now, innocent people have been killed. ISIS have claimed responsibility and we have to move forward not backwards. When the dead have been buried, we will all have to pick up the pieces. Not only their family and friends, but the gay community as a whole. Once again, gay people, will have to start to fight for their own survival. Gay rights across the World have been crumbling for a few years now, from Russia to the Middle East, and beyond. Once again, Gay people are being used as an excuse to practice hatred, demonising us, for all that is wrong in the World. Gay people, should once again grapple with the challenges that have bought us to where we are today. When your brothers and sisters are shot, for just being themslves, it really is time to protest against these religious, bigoted, insane individuals and groups.

My heart truly does go out to all those affected by the severe loss of life in Orlando. These people were shot by one man, yet many more must be held responsible for these deaths. For too long, weak Liberal Governments have pandered to religious needs. This has to stop. Certain religious groups should be banned, instead of rewarded for their beliefs. In these uncertain times, we have to deal with these horrendous groups, whatever the cost. There will be no future, if we do not look up from our daily lives and meet these confrontations head on!
Published on

June 12, 2016

Friends!

Our friends and family back in The UK, are never far from our thoughts. With facebook and social media, we never miss them, in the way we used to, when we lived in Australia twenty years ago. On average I will get a couple of emails or messages a day from people back at home. Despite one negative message, right at the beginning, when we first moved here, every message has been positive in nature, wishing all of us, all the luck in the World, for our new life.

Only yesterday I received a message from my Brother from another Mother, Gavin Manning. Despite going through a tough time, he was still able to offer his love to us all out here in Spain. It is strange, that the people we had less contact with in Britain, have been the ones who have offered us the kindest wishes and have been the most genuine with their words. Words do not cost a fortune to say. They are heart felt and come from people who whether you like them or not, have had an impact on you. I have always been brought up to speak my mind and express my feelings, whenever I feel it is appropriate. People really don't uunderstand, just how important words are, to those who receive them!

I wanted to say to all those who continue to stay in contact with us, a big thank you, for reinforcing my faith in people. So many, who were close, have turned out to be the lowest of the low, cheaters, liars, users and abusers. It really is amazing to see such a strong core group of friends we know, still there, still supporting and still encouraging us to move forward with wherever life takes us. These were always the important ones in our life. It just took us a while to realise it!

You do learn a lot about human nature over your life time and to be perfectly honest, most of it is not great. The people who shouted loudest on my behalf, the friends who pretended to be there forever, wouldn't let you down and spoke with platitudes, these are the ones who are no longer in my life. These were the bad ones, akin to those who tried, without success to destroy my life at work. These people were no different and actually were far worse, through their pretence at friendship.

Isolation from true friends was the key to understanding what exactly was happening a year ago. Someone I thought was a friend, who I thought was protecting both myself and my partner from bad elements, by preventing these people entering our life, was in fact, as I know now, isolating us from our true and honest friends. Manipulative individuals, with their own agenda were the reasons, why much of our troubles escalated. Personally I am a very open, honest and accepting and importantly take people at face value. I don't believe they are liars, I believe that all people tell the truth. There lies my faults. A belief in the wrong people all my life. I also trust the judgement of those I regard as close, over and above anyone, especially myself. So the manipulators won the day, spouted their untruths and isolated us, from those, who were real in our life.

This is the point, I really want to name names, but will resist, yet again for now. My life has moved on dramatically, and I don't want the likes of those who were responsible for some terrible times, to have any excuse to start with their pathetic games yet again.

Let me return to the positive elements, the ones we left behind and the ones who have been instrumental in helping us achieve all we want to in our life. I have mentioned Gavin, who I really do send my warmest wishes to at the moment and hope everything turns out well. Lee Ralph has also always kept in touch and we have spoken to each other on and off ever since we have been here. Lee was there when I was at my most ill and he will always be a favourable ray of light for me. Claire Tooley, has also always remained stead fast and whatever happens in her own life, she will always have a place in mine. Nils and Sara Rattan, have always given me a reason to smile and like others can see the profound change in me. Wonderful friends with hearts of gold. Justin Phillips, who we have spoken too since moving has sent some of the loveliest messages of support, has also rebuilt my faith in others. He is most welcome to stay at Casa Caprice both this and any year he wants to. Dale, who helped us move over, is the most treasured friend we are ever likely to have. A true and honest guy, who I have known for longer than Darrell and I have been together. A friend in every sense of the word. Chris Jennings and Sharna Parker, who were so supportive, during our final few days in The UK, their friendship, being one of the most important we have. It was great to renew our friendship with Nathan Stephens, whilst living over here. I had missed what we had and despite living miles apart, I know we can at least have a bond. Thank you also to Gemma, Alison, Melissa, SJ, Ramona, Aunty Myra and everyone who has been there for us. These people are truly admirable and honourable and each of them in their own way have helped us get to grips with our new life, despite living hundreds and hundreds of miles away!

We have of course made many new friends in Spain, very different to those we left behind in Britain. The people who live and work in Gran Alacant are individuals in every respect. All of them have come here for their own reasons, but everyone has one thing in common, that allow each of us to get along. We have left our lives in the UK, with an aim to start a new life, with fresh challenges. The common bond of survival is what makes each of us move forward and the friendships that form are just as important as those we left behind, Restarting a life can be hard, but would be all the harder without people around us. People are the life blood of creation and each one of us is trying to create our own unique slice of life. Combined, the community works well. My new friends are my future. Those from my old life are a reminder of the past and also a warning to never again allow the terrible aspects of human nature into ones circle. Those that are left in The UK, constantly remind me to push onwards, remind me, I am missing nothing and empower me to achieve all I want to achieve. They are the good ones that are left, who I will always carry with me, in my thoughts and memories. These are the ones I miss every day and the individuals who helped shape me as a person!

My views of friendship are very different from most peoples. I want to enjoy everlasting bonds with people I care about, through honest and genuine time spent with one another. A lot of friends will tell you what you want to hear, then talk about you behind your back. At the time you believe what others are saying to you, but as time goes on and the truth drips out you finally find out how sincere they are, in the worst way possible.

I will always do what I can to help others, even if that means I go without myself. I am a giver and most importantly, I do not take, from anyone, whether you are a friend or not. I just do not believe it is right to take from anyone. I am trusting to a fault and sadly others know that and take advantage of my good nature. That is not something I can or want to change, but I have become far more careful and observant since moving to Spain. I no longer wish to tolerate the scum, I have had to put up with in the past. I am far more guarded and will not let people into my life easily any more, Funny enough the bad people are the ones who taught me that. It is why they are terrible people, because no one knows nothing about them. They keep their true selves hidden. I do not intend to hide who I am of course, but I pick and choose who I want to tell about the real me. Thus far this approach is working!

My complicated relationships with friends is not something that can be explained simply. It is about personal experience and being true to oneself. I will not give any more second chances to people any more and will certainly never be so stupid, as to have people in my life, who are essentially the reasons why my existance is so bad. One strike and you are out, that has to be the way forward now. No more toleration of those who quite simply have no right to breath the same air as good people!
Published on

June 11, 2016

Shopping!

Supermarkets

Shopping is very different in Spain, compared to The UK. As I write this today, I have to say, I am still not used to The Spanish way of purchasing provisions. Coming from Britain, things could not be more different. There are probably four shopping areas in Gran Alacant, with The GA Centro Commercial being the biggest, The GA Centre has three supermarkets in it, Lidl, Consum and Mercadona. The three are all very different and unlike supermarkets in Britain, they do not compete against one another. There are no special, buy one get one free or two for one offers. They have their own pricing structure, and as we do, most people shop around for the cheapest goods. Apart from the local markets, there are no other small independent grocers, as there are in The UK!

Unide is our local supermarket, probably the one we use most. It is a short walk away from our house and a short drive away from The GA Centre. The food, whilst a little more expensive, is more or less comparable to the other major players. The shop is convenient and if we didn't have a car, would be the one we used all the time, as we did when we first came here. The supermarkets are also very different to those in The UK. There is less variety to choose from. The range of products on sale are much smaller and every day staples seem to be less expensive. Bread, milk, eggs are all a lot less expensive, and as long as you buy Spanish products, you will will always under cut the typical British food bill.

British Quicksave

All supermarkets have a range of British food here. The area has a huge British population, which of course puts demands on what Spanish supermarkets sell. The products are over priced, but for Brits like me, who love their Marmite, they are essential. There is also The British Supermarket, Quicksave, which sells everything British, and stocks products from ASDA and TESCO. All of

it, is more expensive than you would pay back home, but the service Quicksave offers is second to none. If you want something that isn't there, you can order it from them and they will stock it for you. A little bit of Britain in Spain and it goes down well. Everytime I go in there, it is packed! I can get Marmite and HP Sauce and Darrell can now get his vegemite, after ordering it from the shop. At 4.60€, it isn't cheap, but it does allow us, to at least have a few luxuries from back home!

Late Night

In reality, 24 hour or even late night shopping does not exist, at least in this part of Spain. Although locally there are a couple of late night shops in the local area. Orange clad outside, they sell essential items, that you may need, not for 24 hours. They usually close at two

or three o clock in the morning. They are particularly useful on a Sunday, when everything else is shut down, because here at least, on a Sunday, nothing is open at all.

Chinese Shops

I was amazed by the chinese shops in this region of Spain. The Chinese shops, just like Bazar, sell everything you could possibly need, apart from food. Furniture, to electricals, stationery and gardening, they sell literally the whole kit and caboodle. They also sell a lot of what you don't need as well. Personally I love the shops and there is always something to find. As a rule they are reasonably priced and for places like the urbanization we live in, they are a means to an end. If you are looking for something to finish off your new home, you are guaranteed to find it in one of these.

Shoppings Malls

If you want to go clothes shopping you will have to head to Alicante or Elche, which are the two closest towns, providing a vast array of shopping centres and malls, as well as department stores. 'Gran Via' is a typical shopping complex, just outside Alicante. 'Gran Via', has a large Primark, which is popular with expats, offering a large range of clothes at reasonable prices.

'Gran Via' as well as the more central 'Plaza Mar', cater for a wide range of customers on a large scale. The supermarkets, like Carrefour, offer a far more extensive shopping experience. We tend to go here, about once every few weeks to buy the things we can't

buy in Gran Alacant. Items tend to be a lot cheaper and you can also buy in bulk if you wish. The shopping Malls, in my opinion are far better than those back home. They are much larger and also offer a large array of smaller independent stores, on top of the major multinationals, like Zara and Primark.

Consumer Rights

Unlike The UK, there are no or very little consumer rights in Spain. Don't expect to take faulty items back to the shop of purchase and get a refund. Shops are not obliged to do this by law, although many do, out of good will, especially the larger stores.

Summary

You can live as cheap as you want in Spain. It can be very inexpensive on a day to day basis to survive. If you eat as The Spanish do, it can be even cheaper. If like me, you want certain British products, you will have to pay for them, but as long as you limit what you need to the basics of what you desire, that really isn't a problem. You can of course obtain most British products on The Costa Blanca. The region even has Iceland on its door step, if you wanted to stock up on frozen food. There are British specialist shops and you can also order items online for delivery. All of the supermarkets stock a range of British goods, including our local grocers, Unide, Dialprix in Masa Square and the large Department Stores in Alicante.

Furniture remains expensive in Spain, compared to The UK, Antique furniture is few and far between here, most of it, having been destroyed during The Spanish Civil War. You can of course buy it, but most are either reproduction, or completely out of the price range of most consumers.

Cars are also very expensive, holding their value well. Of course in a hotter climate, cars rust less and need less work carried out on them. We worked out that the car Darrell left behind in Britain would cost double here, to what we paid back home. The buying process is of course very different, with the added complications of the Spanish system.

Electricals, seem in the main to be far cheaper than the UK. I bought a new lap top when I arrived here, the equivalent of which in The UK, would have cost at least a third more. Televisions and Music Centres, are also much cheaper. All the time, one should always factor in the lower wages in Spain.

The difference in shopping habits is reflected in The Spanish people. They are much healthier, they use and consume less and they spend a smaller proportion of their income on living, eating and buying consumables. In the UK we do have access to far more, that one does here, but does that really make it any better. Well in conclusion I can safely say, after five months living in Spain, the way of doing things here, seems to be better in most respects. The cost of living is far lower and you only ever buy what you need. In a way, it is rather like stepping back in time, but in a good way. Spain is not for everyone, but for me at least, it has been about relearning life skills, which I am enjoying, reassessing my lifestyle and using housekeeping methods, my Mother and Father used in the 1970s. In the main I am happier now than I have ever been. Shopping is just a small part of life here, much smaller than at home. That makes me happy!

Of course everyone needs to shop, in order to survive. Once you understand, just how much you need in reality, you are able to change your buying behaviour. I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that my shopping habits in the past were wasteful and thoughtless. I would discard more than I would actually use, now it is a completely different story. Life is firmly different, living in Southern Europe. Not only the way of life and culture but every single aspect is opposite to the way I am used too. Learning to live in a different way, is part of the experience. The skills I learn here, I can use for the rest of my life and hopefully avoid, making the same mistakes, I made in the previously. It is important to use this period of my life, learning and growing, without the access of the past. Life isn't about the accumulation of things, it is about living, understanding my capabilities and limitations and most importantly being exposed to real life, without the cushion of a welfare state and the get out clauses, that were responsible for the failures of the past!
Published on

June 11, 2016

The Queen at 90!

I am thoroughly enjoying, HM The Queen's Birthday celebrations from Britain. We are having our own jamboree here, in The Square. Sadly I have to work, but will pop along later. Always British, always a Royalist, forever an expat! Happy Birthday Ma'am

Luke M Jones 10 June 2016
Published on

June 10, 2016

Sunshine After The Rain!

It has been another hot and happy few days in Gran Alacant. Smiling faces, at the beach and in the pool. Shopping, lunch, spending time with friends. Something is different, something has changed, finally the sunshine after the rain!

Luke M Jones 10 June 2016
Published on

June 9, 2016

Betrayal!

I am testimony to this fact. Those closest will always be the ones who try to bring you down. In the main, people only get close, when they want something. You are merely a means to an end. I have a whole list of people like that. They all know who they are!

Luke M Jones 9 June 2016