Roaming Brit
  • 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
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets

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

Picture

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!'

Picture

Brexit Frustration!

4/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The interesting aspect of working in a bar in Spain, is the people you meet, on a daily basis. Gran Alacant has a core resident population, a good proportion of which are British; we do however have a large transient populous who come and go; seasonal workers, holiday makers and second home owners. All of which make for an interesting place to live. 

Even in  November, we have our fair share of tourists through the door of LoungeD, all of them happy to chat and pass the time of day. Meeting people is always a pleasure; I am interested in the stories they tell, the lives they lead and of course the news from back home in Britain. I still class the UK as my home, even though I no longer live there, not because I miss it, but because that is where my roots are. In time as I establish myself in Spain, I am sure that  will change.

The news from home isn't great at the moment; everyone I have spoken to recently appears downbeat. When I left the UK in January 2016, I had concerns about moving to Spain, a country of high unemployment and lower wages. Today, I am happy to be here rather than there. Despite the problems in Spain, politically or otherwise, those I know, Expats and Spanish, are positive about the future, looking forwards, rather that backwards.

LoungeD has been open for nearly four months now. when you look at our 'Familiar Faces' photo album on the facebook web page, you will see hundreds of people, enjoying themselves in the Spanish sun, getting away from the problems in the UK for a week or two. Talk always turns to Britain's future and everyone has a view, some more vocal than others. People are fed up with the endless hours of talking  and no tangible results to show. A common theme is 'Britain backed into a corner' and 'Europe is punishing the UK, for daring to vote out of the EU.' These statements may or may not be true, we are not privy to the real bona fide facts; governments on both sides of the channel only tell the rest of us, what they want us to hear; the reality is, we know no more now than we did  a year ago. There seems to be plenty of chatter, not all of it accurate or helpful and very little doing; the frustration everyone feels is understandable!

I rarely watch the British news these days. I find the BBC biased, detracting attention from the real issues, patronising and politically ignorant. Instead I speak to the tourists and people with views that matter, those who really understand the mess Britain is in. Writing my column 'Chatter' for the 'Gran Alacant Advertiser,' has brought me in contact with many wonderful characters, all of whom have a voice and want it to be heard. I include many comments from those who live in GA, because they are important; more so than the BBC. Friends, neighbours and those just passing through Gran Alacant are always a joy to talk with, without their words of wisdom and thoughts on the times we live in, my job as a columnist would be that much harder; opinions, whether I agree with them or not are essential. I have changed my views many times, just by listening to others. As an Expat, living in Gran Alacant, I am part of a community, more diverse than any I have lived in before, we are a melting pot of beliefs, ideas and conviction, so much so, we are all willing and able to speak our minds. Expats are a strong breed, have many concerns, yet less representation than our British counterparts. We need to be listened to during this Brexit debate, so far our plight is being ignored; this has to change. Our future is in question, more than the bureaucrats and politicians in Westminster or Brussels, without our contribution to the Spanish economy, places like Gran Alacant would not exist. Stay vocal, keep chatting, stand up for your rights and above all keep up the pressure on those who will shape all our lives and future direction!

Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    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.

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

    Submit
    Picture
    Click me & email for more information!
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia 2022/23
    Bettys-revenge
    Bipolar
    Bipolarcoaster
    Britain
    Bullying
    Business
    Cancer Research
    Cats
    Characters-i-have-known
    Charity
    Charlatan-or-confidant
    Christmas Thoughts
    Claybornes World
    Coming-out-stories
    Cooking
    Coronavirus
    Croatia 2022
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Death Of Queen Elizabeth
    Dunbars
    Easy Horse Care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating Facts
    Friends & Colleagues
    Gran Alacant
    Guest Bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories-of-home
    Memories-of-southampton
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelope Wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Pippa
    Platinum Jubilee
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Villa In The Sun
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year In Review 2015
    Year In Review 2016
    Year In Review 2017
    Year In Review 2018
    Year In Review 2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Year In Review 2022
    Zest

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by realtruthblog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Instagram
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    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
    Picture
Picture
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

lukemartin.jones@gmail.com
  • 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
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets