Roaming Brit
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From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

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On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions have to be made. Illness, family bonds and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in a life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

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Saturday!

29/4/2017

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Just completed making a Lasagne for dinner and enough to freeze for a few weeks. This evening it's time to sit down and finish an article I am writing, about the British General Election, start writing book number seven and continue creating a website, I am designing for a new project. Dinner date with friends tomorrow, chill time on Monday!
It's been another dull, miserable day in Gran Alacant; typical British Bank Holiday weather, here in Spain. 

I had to go out today; the shops will be closed for Labour Day, on Monday, so took an early morning walk, around the urbanization, to UNIDE, our local Co-Operative; grabbing some supplies for the Spanish Red Day! The rain held off at least, although there was a distinct chill in the air!

Back home at Casa Gay Caprice, I have spent the day cooking and continuing to spring clean my house. There isn't long left before the new bar opens and I have to start work, so I want to get everything done, while I have the chance!

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The Past!

28/4/2017

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Heard from an old friend yesterday, Dom from Southampton. We knew him at a time, when I was going through a traumatic time in my life. He was very much a rock of support; we lived together, both in Southampton and at our house in Barnoldswick. Like a lot of friendships, we lost touch over the years and have managed to rekindle our relationship, after such a long time, which I am grateful for. Dom played a large role in our life and it was difficult when that friendship fell by the wayside.

Of course, talking to old friends made me reminisce over old times; I went through some old photographs,  included in this blog entry. It's funny really, photo's are the only things I have left now, from a lifetime spent living in the UK.  I am happy, I spent so long taking pictures of everyone I knew; at times it jogs the memory, recalling events, sometimes, I would rather not remember. Photographs, are the most important possessions in my life now; with all the material things gone, they are all that matter!

Looking through all these old photos, some of them pixelated, old camera phone pictures,  got me thinking about the past. I rarely look back these days, unless, like Dom, someone I haven't seen or heard from in a while, pops up.  In order for all of us, to move forwards in life, we need to have these links, to our history, they are the only way, we can learn, from our mistakes. Take loads of photographs, keep memories alive and always remember where you came from!
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Precious 2005!

28/4/2017

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An old photograph of Precious, that I found earlier; taken when she was a kitten in 2005!
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The Rain In Spain.....

27/4/2017

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​The rain in Spain, cut the wifi again. It's been awful weather, today, in Gran Alacant; raining, most of the day. At 12pm on the dot, the wifi, from Grannet went down, not unusual here in Spain, a loss of signal, happens quite regularly. 
At least it gave me the opportunity to do a few things, I hadn't done for a while, since writing is my priority at the moment. I managed to finish cleaning the house, put the washing away, hoover and completed another article  for my column, in the GA Advertiser. There is so much going on in the World at the moment, that every time I finish an article, I am having to write another one, taking account of  news from the UK!

Also managed to give Lily a good grooming, basically doing the job that Precious used to do for her; afterwards, she promptly threw up all over the house, as Lily often does. Casa eventually cleaned, cat cleaned; now it's time I had some dinner; have a lovely evening Y'all!
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Lily!

26/4/2017

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A couple of photo's of Lily, I took, over the last few days. She seems to be getting stronger, each day, although attached to me, 24/7, not wanting me, to leave her side.

She was with Precious for ten years, so never spent anytime, on her own.  I'm not sure whether to get, a new kitten, as a friend for her, or not. To be honest, pets can tie you down somewhat, so I will see if she copes, on her own first!
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Dinner!

26/4/2017

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Dinner this evening, came straight from the freezer. Food I have been cooking and freezing, since I have been in Spain.

Chicken stew, with butternut squash, carrotts, turnips, parsnips, green beans and barley; with home cooked frozen roasties. I also added a bit of Spanish chorizo, not a lot, just enough, to taste!
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Roger's

26/4/2017

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After my mammoth writing week, finishing my sixth book, I finally got out of the house yesterday, popping over Katie and Andy's, really just to pick up a hoover; however, we ended up popping to Roger's new bar, in Masa Square, Gran Alacant, for a quick drink or two.

This was the first time, I had been to Roger's new place; what with illness and writing on overdrive, I haven't had an opportunity to do so, thus far. I have to say I was extremely impressed by the place, it looks fantastic. Roger was his usual cheerful self and it was a pleasure sat outside on his large terrace, enjoying the afternoon sun.

Circumstances were such, that we left, returning to Katie and Andy's for dinner, sat on their solarium, where Andy has just constructed a new bar area.  It was a great end to the evening, sat chatting with friends, trying to put the World to rights, which sadly never works; the World is still in the mess it was yesterday.
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Bipolarcoaster - September 2015

26/4/2017

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Book number six, Bipolarcoaster - September 2015, is now available to buy; either in a Paperback format, for $5.99 or Kindle ebook for $2.13.

Please click on the photographs, to take you to the Amazon website, where you can purchase the book of your choice. Other books are also available in the series.
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Dinner!

23/4/2017

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Dinner tonight; Minced beef, pepper and sweetcorn cooked in red wine; one I had pre cooked in the freezer!
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Oxfam/Oxscam!

23/4/2017

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'Not a good time to work at Oxfam: weak leaders/HR, sexist and arrogant colleagues are common!'

'HR is not somewhere you would trust with personal issues!'

'hard to find someone who can advise you on benefits and policies!'

'internal training hard to come by, especially on policies and management!'

'Women should not go for promotion, if they have children!'

'heard very strange comments about gender work, by senior leaders!'​

'Head Office is surprisingly undiverse!'

'no people strategy in oxfam for years!'

'know dozens of colleagues who have burnt out and left on really unhappy terms!'

'bullying is another reason lots of colleagues, have talked about for leaving and is often not dealt with!'

'leadership don't convey that they listen to staff, or value them!'

'senior leaders are in it for themselves!'

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This is the most shocking review of Oxfam, the charity I used to work for, I have ever read. The review was placed on 'glassdoor' on 20 March 2017, a little over a month ago. The employee in question, stated they worked at Oxfam House, Head Office, in Cowley, Oxford, for about eight years. This person, would have been there when I was employed; I probably knew them or spoke to them in the past.

My readers are well aware, of the traumatic time, I went through, whilst working for Oxfam; when you are going through such turmoil, you do feel alone, most of the time; it is a natural feeling. I have read a lot about this charity recently, no least the reviews online. I have received email after email, detailing other employees experiences, with Oxfam; not only from the region I used to work in, but from much further afield, also. I have read about the death of an employee, who took their own life, because of victimisation; I have experienced bullying first hand and am in regular contact with those, who are still suffering, at the hands, of some of the most disgusting individuals, I have ever, had the misfortune to meet. The reality for me, is, I am still dealing with Oxfam, what happened to me and others, as well as trying, to give advice, to those, in a similar position today.

The person who wrote this review, was brave and truthful. Like me, they realised, this kind of behaviour, could not go  unchecked.  Too many individuals, good people, hardworkers, have been destroyed or thrown asunder, as Oxfam continues, to rip up the rule book. This charity believes it is above the law: it's Government links and powerful place, at the top of the charity tree, is a smokescreen for some extraordinary terrible deeds; the kind of actions I have never experienced, in all my working life; public and private sector alike.

Clearly, it isn't a great time to wok at Oxfam. The review pinpoints areas of concern for all those who work and give to this organisation. A review is mentioned. Ever since I can remember, Oxfam has been in the middle of some review or another. It seems they are constantly wrestling with internal issues, unable to resolve problems and conflict. This is a dreadful indictment on all those senior managers at Head Office.

I remember attending a hearing against my superior, who had been bullying myself and other colleagues.  The Regional Manager, Peter Hall, who discussed the issues at hand, along with Beth Mayes, Head of HR, were both in attendance, along with a Union Representative, Nick Bailey.  The whole sorry episode was a farce, staged by this group of uninterested, belligerent and antagonistic people.  They were not interested in what I had to say, far from it, they had already made up their minds.  A co-worker who was also in attendance, with me, was destroyed in every possible way.  He walked out of the meeting, after the Union representative, had to stop proceedings, because the Regional Manager, had brought my associate to tears; shouting and bullying were his tactics; no different, to those employed, across Oxfam, as a whole.  Other colleagues, who also stood up against this intolerable behaviour, were belittled in the same way, choosing, as I did, to resign in the end, due to the sinister, appalling nature of what was going on.

Let me talk about, a couple of the statements, made by my colleague, who wrote this review. I have highlighted the important ones above; ones that are relevant to me. The first is that 'HR can not be trusted with personal issues.' This I know to be true; both myself and colleagues, spoke personally to HR representatives, at various different stages, on issues of a personal nature. These confidential discussions were spoken about to others, who used them as a reason to bully.  The issues involved,  included the sensitive subject of rape and miss use of medical records, which people with no authority, had access too. Yes these are shocking revelations, but they are true and known to those, who used them for their own malicious ends. It was common knowledge that one should never tell HR anything; they were untrustworthy and had people working in the department, who were quite willing to hand personal details out to whoever they thought fit.

Secondly, 'Head Office is surprisingly undiverse!'  This is an interesting point for me. I had been to Head Office on a number of different occasions and was struck by the lack of minority groups, recognised within Oxfam House; how few of the directors, came from a different cultural background and most concerning, the senior management team, were completely unrepresentative of those they managed.  Their bombastic and bullish attitudes were difficult to quantify, considering those, they were supposed to be helping. Oxfam Head Office is basically a bastion of white, middle class people, all trying to protect their positions.  One colleague once told me, that living in Oxford was pricey; Oxfordshire being the most expensive county to live outside of London. High mortgages and rents, were the only concern, of those working, at this luxurious Head Office, on the outskirts of Oxford.  There was very little concern for the programmes, initiated by Oxfam, designed to help 'Make Poverty History!'  Once again a shocking appraisal of a failing charity!

The third and last one I want to cover today, in this entry is 'It's hard to find someone to advise on benefits and policies!' This is the area, that Oxfam failed me in: unable to give me the correct information, with regards to disability and discrimination.  An Area Manager apparently knew nothing of policies and procedures, designed to protect staff. Her ignorance left many employees, feeling abandoned and ill, at a time, when they should have been given support. An inability to recognise, appropriate Government employment legislation, is criminal, and people should have been prosecuted, over systemic failures, of Health and Safety, putting lives at risk, causing physical and mental damage, to those who should have been looked after.

There is so much more I could say, most of which I have said already, so wont repeat. I feel sure that in time, Oxfam will be exposed, for the terrible charity, they really are. They should be stripped of their charitable status, after what they have done to their employees; these people must be brought to account. Unite, the Union, who represented me, did very little to help my circumstances. They sit within, an office, at Oxfam House and have built up a rapport, friendships and understandings, with senior managers. Unite are guilty of conspiring with Oxfam, to cause damage and discredit, those, they were supposed to represent. Finally, it is up to my colleagues, who still remain active, in the organisation, to stand up for each other, as they didn't do, for me and others; speak out against bullying, speak up for those with no voice, speak louder, the less they listen and speak out against the lies and disregard for human dignity; then, eventually, things may change!
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    51-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my adopted home of Perth, Western Australia.

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    A place to call home
    Finally, a place we can call home.  A community of like minded individuals, who used to call Britain home.  Now Spain is our choice, an altogether gentler, happier, sunnier and safer experience!
            Luke Feb 16
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  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
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    • Wedding
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    • Letters Of Hope
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  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets