On September 18th 2017 Ryanair announced a huge number of flight cancellations. Over the next six weeks it planned, to cancel between 40 and 50 flights a day; a spokesman confirmed:
'We messed up planning of pilot holidays!'
Recently, they have announced further disruption, continuing up until March 2018, as they get to grips with mismanagement and inappropriate short term policies, without a thought for those who have booked holidays. Consumers and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are up in arms about Ryanair's failures and conceited, misleading way in which it is dealing with its own internal problems. Consumers are being effected in a way they never have been before and it seems on the surface at least, they can not do anything about it, at least for now. In time the compensation claims will  roll in , as people realise the extent of their losses.  Angry customers equal lost revenue for this airline, many never returning to use them again.  Make no mistake, claim for everything; don't let this terrible company get away with a single Euro!

A friend of ours, Nathan arrives on Monday,  flying with Ryanair; as far as we are aware, his flight is scheduled to arrive, without delay. Luckily, looking at the list of cancelled scheduled flights, very few to or from Alicante are included. Alicante Airport is a major hub in this part of Spain, taking millions of passengers to the Costas each year. For others the misery will continue until the company is brought to account. My advice would be to avoid this atrocious airline if you can.

I have only flown with Ryanair a few times, with no problems it has to be said; however this was many years ago. Today I always use local airports in the UK, Southampton in the main and always choose to fly with flybe, who are excellent in every respect. Ryanair is a scurrilous company, whose hidden charges and poor customer service remain cause for concern. Vote with your feet, choose any other airline; just not Ryanair!

A few photographs from our new Villa in Gran Alacant. The Casa is situated in the urbanization of Puerto Marino, about five minutes from Calle Holanda, where I work and two minutes from the GA Centre; it is twice the size of our current home. The views of the nature reserve, from the front terrace are breathtaking and should make the perfect base for us, while we are living in Gran Alacant; far more central, than living on the top of a mountainous ravine! Fingers crossed we will be moved in by the end of November!

I seem to spend my life jumping through official hoops, with my partner Darrell. Getting hitched to a non EU national has its ups and downs, that's for sure, but despite Darrell's Australian status, he has been granted permission to live and work in Spain; that's another milestone crossed off the list. Like the story of our life his legal rights were granted, with just a week to go, before he starts his new job at Alicante Airport; always last minute, with little time to spare; right up to the wire.

His status had remained precarious, due to his situation; legally placed slap bang in the middle, of a rather grey area of Spanish law. Most couples who come to settle in Spain are from the EU, so we had to overcome that hurdle before we started. Luckily our same sex status does not count negatively towards us now, as it did, when Darrell and I went through a similar process in the UK, in 1995-2000. Back then same sex couples were not recognised in law, so we had to fight to remain together, for many years. Today Spain has granted Darrell consent to remain in this great country in a matter of weeks; that's how far we have moved forwards; times have most definitely changed; discrimination is a thing of the past.

Darrell starts his new job next week and we can both finally begin to build, a new life in Spain. Twenty months in and we have achieved the security we desire; the UK is but a distant memory!

22 years ago today, myself and Darrell started on our journey through life together and oh boy what a life it has been. I have talked about how we met many times before, so today wanted to talk about our Wedding, which took place this time two years ago. 

As Weddings go, it was as unconventional as it could be; the signs were there, especially after asking Darrell to marry me on  facebook, in January of the same year. I had arranged with the Registry Office for the ceremony to take place, on our 20th Anniversary together, getting married in front of forty of our closest and dearest friends at the Golden Jubilee Room in Southampton.

A friend, Natalee Michelle escorted me up the aisle, in the absence of a member of my family doing the honours. Natalee had been there for me at a difficult time in my life; she was the ideal candidate for the job. Darrell and I are lucky enough to have Natalee living in Spain with us today; we certainly are not going to get rid of that girl easily.

My best man Jay, had also been there during a punishing period, whilst working for Oxfam. Jay was employed by the same charity, living with us and coping with the tribulations myself and Darrell were going through; something I will always be truly grateful for. Not only did Jay support me throughout the Wedding, but he also stayed up the night before, helping make a Wedding cake, after the original baker pulled out last minute! He was a rock before and during our big day! Although we are no longer in contact, he is well aware of what I think of him; I'll stop before I get a little too emotional! 

The Wedding went without a hitch; breaking down during the ceremony was a small hiccup, in an otherwise perfect day. It had been a long road, acquiring legal recognition; 20 years of battling and fighting, no least during the last year and the terrible circumstances behind our future departure from Britain. Everything came to pass, thanks to the hard work of all those involved; so many memories came flooding back; emotions played a large part for many who attended; it marked the end of adversity and the beginning of our new life together.

With rings exchanged, vows expressed and the register signed we were married. Finally after copious amounts of photographs outside, the throwing of the bouquet, caught by Aunty Danae and good wishes from friends and family, we all departed to the London Hotel, where Darrell and myself had arranged a buffet for our guests. We had very little money at the time and surprisingly arranged the whole day for just over three thousand pounds, a bargain by today's standards and a sign of things to come as we moved to Spain.

The London Hotel, 'Southamptons premier gay venue' put on a lovely spread, enjoyed by all of us there; it was a fantastic day to remember for all our guests and of course the beginning of the end for our life in the UK. I would like to thank everyone for making that day so special and being with us. We have taken those memories with us and will remember you all on this day each year.

Yesterday Darrell received news of a job offer, a full time contract and all the perks that come with it, living and working in Spain. Today we are sorting out the final legalities of his situation, living with me as a non EU citizen. We are of course both married and allowed to stay together, without hindrance in any EU member state. The logistics behind that, requires Darrell to obtain Spanish Residencia. Darrell is waiting for the final stage of that process to complete, then we can both move forwards in life finally.

I have a question to ask my readers, since I am not a lawyer or solicitor. If anyone has knowledge of, or information about ,non EU citizens rights, living in Spain with their EU partner, could you please message me. We are a little unsure about certain aspects, relating to Darrell's status in Spain. Any advice anyone can give will be much appreciated.

Please leave comments in the box below or email me at lukemartin.jones@gmail.com.

​We are both hoping, that this is the end, of what has been an arduous process for us both and we can both finally begin to live our life in Spain. Once again, thank you to all our readers for their continued support.

Mollie and Wildling are certainly getting bigger, twice as large, as they were, when we first got them a few weeks ago. I am sure they are going through their terrible two's at the moment, into everything, hiding in my chest of drawers, climbing curtains, jumping on the bed at 4 am and eating, oh boy do they eat; constantly! Myself and Darrell are growing used to them now, which is more than I can say for Lily, who it has to be said, gives them a slap or two, when they get out of line! For now our little family are happy and content.