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

Christmas, Home or Away? - Luke Martin-Jones!

19/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Christmas Spain 2017
Picture
Darrell and I have spent Christmas in many different towns, cities and countries since we have been together; there isn't much we haven't done at this time of year. When making a decision about where I would like to spend the festive season, I have to base my dreams on past experiences. For the last four years, I celebrated Christmas at home in the UK; whether I enjoyed my time is immaterial, sadly I have so many bitter reminiscences, I would hate to be back there again, especially at such a happy time. I have done much to block out the pain of the past and move forward, which is why I would always choose to be away. My life now is incomparable to 2021, and for that I am truly grateful!

The essence of Christmas, at least for me, is being around loved ones and those closest. The last four years, although clouded with bad memories, allowed me to spend time with family and friends, very different to years gone by. There are of course some people I am glad to see the back of, and never want to see again. For that reason, I would love to be back home in Spain, with the community I grew to love. Celebrating Christmas with my Spanish friends and neighbours, I would be sat comfortably in Sierra Mar Square, inside Zest, having a few pints of Mahou, before walking down the hill to cook lunch at our Casa in the sun.

Mine and Darrell's last Spanish Christmas was memorable for all the right reasons. We were together celebrating, having a glass or two of Cava, opening a rather large hamper given to us by his grateful employers at Alicante Airport. It was a simple affair; there weren't hoards of people around, just us and the cats, watching British satellite TV, the Queen's Speech and sharing a typical Christmas dinner. Well, I say typical, but we didn't have lots of money, so everything was affordable, and we had chicken, instead of the more expensive alternative.

That was a special time for us, the final Christmas we spent together as a couple, away from the stress and strain of family life, bickering, quarrels and discord that is the hallmark of most such occasions. From our mesmerising parties at The Mansion during Christmas 1993, surrounded by our gay family and friends, to the last Christmas I spent with Mum and Dad in 2008, we have seen it all. In later years we would invite people over who had nowhere to go, giving me a reason to open the door on Christmas Day; in Portsmouth with my Aunt at the height of the pandemic, the reality of separation and disconnection with the World was palpable. However, none of these occasions compare to the time we spent in Spain, doing what the Spanish do, simply, without fuss or frill!

I yearn for the time we finally have a home of our own and can do what we want at Christmas and any other day. The 25th of December will be very different this year in Australia, but that's what makes me and Darrell survivors, after another problematic year. For now, I will continue to dream of our little house in Spain, the recollections of happier times and the memories I will take with me wherever I am in the World. Finally, I look forward to Christmas next year, in our new home together, so far removed from where we are today, remembering what I hope will be our most successful year yet; present hardships but a distant memory!

Feliz Navidad

Picture
Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away - Giles Edwin Bishop!

15/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
If money was no object, I'd still holiday in the UK. I think, probably hire a big narrow boat and spend Christmas on it with a couple of friends. But my Christmas will be spent in pantomime land this yr, in Liverpool, doing Goldilocks...

Today is what I am going to call 'pantomime overlord day' D day in other words. We at the theatre have a good 3-week long stretch, in which to get the rest of the costumes made between the 3 of us. It's gonna be overtime when we can fit it in, on the evenings, when we have outside shows coming in.

Giles

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? Jules White!

11/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
This year I will be spending Christmas with Roger, and then Boxing Day, I’ll be in Windsor with my best friend and godchildren. After all, it’s about children, so it's best to spend it with happiness, rather than on my own thinking about my poor old mum. Bless her heart.

Jules

Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? Caroline Machin

7/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
If money were no object, I would love to take a trip back to my childhood, when I lived in Gibraltar. I would take all my friends and family to spend Christmas Day on the beach, in our rented beach tent, which was like our second home. All the kids could be swimming and playing, the men in the local fisherman's pub and the women preparing food and entertaining each other with gossip and sherry. At the end of the day, we could all go back to a hotel and relax and sleep off the festivities; that would be the perfect Christmas Day for me!

Caroline

Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? Alastair Thompson!

6/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
My perfect Christmas is always at home with family. Especially after COVID, it makes you realise how much you value and appreciate them. Spending Christmas somewhere else would still be special, but there’s something about being at home which I treasure very much.

Alastair

Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? James Anton De' Margio!

3/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
As much as I hate the cold, this is an easy one for me. My mother and I always planned to see northern lights from South Iceland, staying in a log cabin type accommodation, with that Christmas feel; log fire etc. I was my dream for me and her. One day I will do it and raise a glass to her memory.

James

Picture
Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away - John Hibberd!

2/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

I would like to spend Christmas in Rome or New York!

John

Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? Joanne Hurst!

26/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Exactly where I am. I know that I am quite probably in the minority, but I love England.

Joanne

Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? Denise Dunkley!

25/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
If I could have an Xmas anywhere, it would be right here with friends and family xx

Denise

Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Christmas, Home or Away? Janet Belcher!

22/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Anywhere away from here, probably the Swiss alps, with a nice hunk for company of course !!!

Janet

Picture
Picture

0 Comments
<<Previous

    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