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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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Absent Friends!

26/12/2020

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2020 has been a terrible year. Unable to spend time with family and friends and in tribute to those who have lost their lives during the pandemic, we resurrected our family toast, to drink to loved ones, wherever they are. All of us were together in spirit, as we did our best to celebrate Christmas in a smaller more intimate way. They say a photo can tell a story, well this one records our Christmas, the people who should have been a part of it and a day spent with those closest. A single family unit, support bubble or alone with our thoughts, Christmas 2020 was an altogether different affair!
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My Christmas Wish - Amelia Lockhart!

26/12/2020

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My Christmas T-Shirt,
and also my wish!
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My Christmas Wish - Luke Martin-Jones!

25/12/2020

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Darrell and I have been living separate lives for twelve months now, separated by circumstances beyond our control, coerced into a partnership precipitated by a virus, unlike anything the World has ever seen. The last twelve months have tested both of us to our limits and brought both of us to our knees. COVID-19 managed to do the one thing, we had always vowed never to let happen and disembody our life together, at a time when we should have been closer than ever. There is of course only one wish I want for Christmas this year - a return to normality and an end to Coronavirus.

On the day, more of Britain slipped into tier 4 restrictions and a second new variant of the virus was found in the UK, mine and Darrell's relationship continues to be plagued by the spectre of a disease, that as yet, has no end. I am consumed by anxiety every  day, as the death toll rises and hospitals reach breaking point. Darrell remains relatively protected from the ravages of this illness, as our life continues together, contrasting, conflicting and fragmented in a way it never has been before.

Like most people, I hope 2021 will finally see the end of this destructive period and all of us can move on with our lives, secure in the knowledge, we did all we can to protect one another and look after the most vulnerable in society. I am happy I have followed the rules, safeguarded my peers and remained stoical throughout, working, walking, phoning family and friends and continued to live, even though at times I just wanted to give up.

I wish health, happiness and good fortune to all of you, who continue to read and support this blog and hope we can all celebrate the end of 2020 and the beginning of the end of COVID-19 together. Empathize with those who need a kindly ear, a friendly face, behind the masks we wear and give a few gentle words of hope as we enter the final leg of a journey, none of us wanted to steer!

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My Christmas Wish - Yassin Hamrouni!

23/12/2020

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It doesn’t matter what you find under the tree, but who you find around it!
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A Jolly Little Tier 4 Christmas!

20/12/2020

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Whilst everyone else keeps safe on furlough, the rest of us have to work for a living! I think you may detect a note of bitterness in my voice, which would explain my current state of mind. I continue making my journey to work each morning, working in a job I love; the rest of the country, or rather those being paid to do nothing, sit righteously on their thrones moaning about new Tier 4 restrictions that came into force yesterday. May I humbly suggest they look at key workers and vulnerable people who are having to work in the most strenuous of circumstances and are doing everything to keep safe. I, for one, am 100 percent behind the Government and their attempt to stem the tide of this new strain of the virus and so should you - the selfish hoi polloi, who care only about themselves! Of course, I am not saying you are all uncaring and inconsiderate, but a good many of you are!

Listening to the news last night and this morning, I was horrified to hear just how easily spread the new strain of this virus is. You have a higher chance of catching this illness, a 70 percent increase to be exact and people are still acting as though nothing is going on. Walking through Commercial Road in Portsmouth over the last few days, you could be forgiven for thinking you are living through normal times, but in reality we aren't. This is a bloody pandemic and I fail to understand why people are rebuffing the rules. If I am honest, this was a frightening experience and I am so glad all the 'non-essential' shops have been closed.

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Before the Governments announcement yesterday, putting Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport, London and whole swathes of the South East into the new Tier 4, which is essentially a lockdown in all but name, I did get the chance to briefly see my Father. At first, I was weary about seeing him, since he lives in a Tier 2 area and at the time we were in Tier 3, but for me, it was necessary to connect with him,  no matter how brief it was.

My Father has spent most of this year on his own, so soon after my Mothers death, which has been difficult for him and all of us. This pandemic has really shown just how important family is, and I am angry that I haven't been able to see him as much as I would have liked. Not wanting to risk his health, I spent the briefest of time in his company, before getting back on a train and travelling straight back home.

Dad did look rather frail and alone, which was sad to see. He is of course well able to look after himself, having been Mum's carer for twenty years, but the lack of contact between family is taking its toll on him. He hasn't been too well himself lately, and I am sure he would feel a lot better, if those closest were around him more often. Families have been ripped apart by this virus, in life and especially in death, and I was almost tempted to give him a hug, but stopped myself at the last minute.

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Dad had asked me what I wanted for Christmas, as he does every year. I have everything I need, so just asked for something personal from him, that I could keep close, especially at this time. To my surprise he gave me my Mothers Wedding ring, which I could wear around my neck on a chain, a memento I will always cherish. Apart from photographs, I don't have many reminders of my Mother, so this will be a gift, that will ensure she always remains close.  He told me they had chosen the ring together before their wedding in 1967 and had paid the princely sum of £20.00 for it, a lot of money back then, akin to a weeks wages.

We talked briefly about the state of the country, politics and family and I wished him a Happy Christmas, hoping to see him early next year, although I will more than likely see him at Easter, when this Pandemic is finally under control. As the road blocks started to go up around Portsmouth today, I was reminded of the desperate times we are living though, and I am grateful for spending just a few moments with Dad, before the shutters once again go up!

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Darrell and I have had a few ups and downs this past couple of weeks. I think the pandemic is getting to both of us. I have probably sounded off a little more than usual, but sometimes you have to.

The state of the UK at the moment is headline news, across the World and Darrell is naturally concerned at what he is hearing. I have asked him to take a more active role in sorting out our legal status at this time, contacting our Member of Parliament  and doing what he can from his end. This Christmas will be very different for us in Britain, however life continues in Australia, very much as it always has done.

The World remains madder than at any time I have ever known. Expressing my fears for the future, especially right now as the second wave really takes hold, Darrell was left aghast, about just what will be left, when this is all over. The different lives we are leading are so divergent, contrasting in every way, that I am not even sure we will know each other, when we see one another again.

No relationship can survive indefinitely from opposite ends of the planet, and it is important we are allowed to see one another soon. So I will end this entry today, as I began, by pleading with people to take notice of the new rules. I know how difficult it is to not see someone you love over Christmas, because I have been living it for over a year. Like Darrell and I, you just have to accept what is happening, stop worrying about a Christmas turkey and always remember there are people far worse off than you. Once you become resigned to your fate, all of us can finally work together and beat this bloody virus once and for all!
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My Christmas Wish - Dorinda Sweales, Coming Home!

19/12/2020

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Oh my will we be glad to see the back of this year, we’re moving back to England as Brexit makes it extremely difficult for us to stay with the boys. We will finally be able to travel on the 20th so will be back for Christmas as long as things go to plan, but it means I’m stuck here having missed my granddaughter’s first birthday which was on Sunday. We thought we’d dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s but at every turn something went wrong: Flight to UK to collect hire truck was cancelled. The booking code for the crossing to bring the truck to France on the freight tunnel was double booked so someone else used our crossing, it took a week and a half to get it sorted, they had to refund it, and we had to book again.

My crossing on the tunnel was changed. The car broke down on the way up from St Maxime to Calais, and we had to be towed to a garage and waste most of a day waiting for it to be repaired. We finally made it to Calais where Ian and Robson sat for six hours waiting to board the freight train, whilst Spencer and I had to find a hotel for us and the dog. The first day in Calais the car battery gave up the ghost, probably due to the problem that caused the breakdown, so had to try and find a garage. Thankfully the amazingly helpful young man who ran the family hotel we stayed in the night before called a friend who started it with a spare battery, to make sure it was the battery, he then arranged for his friend to take me to the supermarket for food for Spencer, before going to buy me a new battery big enough for our car, and fitting it.

They were wonderful and with all the hatred and anti-Muslim shouters around they proved that you should never listen to the nay-sayer’s and should accept everyone on their own merit. These young guys were an absolute credit to their families. We’ve been in two hotels since, as vacancies were limited, both with hundreds/dozens of police officers policing the freight lorries and keeping them from being entered by desperate people trying to cross the channel (I can’t imagine how desperate these poor people are, just walking next to the sea with the bitter cold wind and choppy waves is bad enough, attempting to cross in a small boat must be horrifically terrifying).

The first hotel had several hundred, all heavily armed, but it was fairly quiet, they were a specific border unit, at this hotel they’re Gendarmerie Nationale and are so noisy all day and all night, it’s fair to say we’ll be glad to see the back of this place. Fingers crossed nothing else goes wrong between now and Sunday! A silver lining though, the beach at Sangatte is just the most wonderful place to walk with the dog and can make me feel calm and content even when things are so hard, and I’m missing Ian and Robson like crazy - the power of natural beauty to improve how we feel is amazing. I usually have the work gardens to keep me stable but sadly no work gardens now, we’ve got to look for work and somewhere to live which is quite daunting. Hope you have a safe and lovely Christmas Love to you both xxx Oh, a couple of photos of the beach that’s keeping me sane at the moment!

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My Christmas Wish - Elizabeth Hallan Bracken!

18/12/2020

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My Christmas wish is that we will be able to travel this coming year and have lots of adventures. I can't wait to get out into nature, camp and hike, visit national parks, boat on the lake. I ache to be able to visit home and family. So here's hoping to for freedom and adventure for 2021!
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My Christmas Wish - Lesley Ings!

16/12/2020

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Hi Luke.

This is my Christmas wish, It says everythin
g for me this year!

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My Christmas Wish - Ajay Lewington!

12/12/2020

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My Christmas wish is that No one is alone and that even if they are, they don’t feel alone! The world is a crazy place at the moment, but we all have ...
Hands to hold
Ears to listen
Eyes to see
Mouth to speak
And a choice .... a choice to want to help and spread the love!

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My Christmas Wish - Geraldine Roberts!

9/12/2020

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I would wish for every family to be together for Christmas xx
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<<Previous

    Author

    48-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my home town of Portsmouth on the south coast of England!

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    A place to call home
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  • Blog
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