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

Changing Lifestyle!

8/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Over the last few months I have been gradually changing my lifestyle for many reasons. As you are all aware, I suffer with chronic IBS and have a number of underlying conditions, that probably make me more susceptible to food sensitivity. These have only been noticeable since I returned to Portsmouth from Spain and probably came to the fore, because of the changes I made to my lifestyle when I returned to the UK.

In Spain, I was an expert at living frugally. It was extremely difficult getting hold of the convenience, processed food readily available here. Of course, you could visit one of the many British supermarkets, stocking such products, but these were expensive and few and far between. It was much easier living in the same way the Spanish do and with money in short supply, I began changing my whole outlook on life.

Rather than buying British food from expensive international food aisles in Dialprix, Consum or Mercadona, I bought seasonal fruit and vegetables from the market in Gran Alacant, or the more affordable grocery stores. I chose to buy meat and other products that were on offer, pairing the ingredients for a nutritious 'cheap' alternative; cooking in bulk and freezing leftovers. This worked well for me, and I was able to live off twenty to thirty euro a week. I had graduated from the wasteful existence I had in Britain, to environmentally friendly sustainability, throwing very little away and learning to live a life more in tune with my Mother and Fathers childhood in the 1950s.

In 2020, I am living my life in similar fashion, but for very different reasons. In Spain, I had very little money to live on, so I had to readjust my lifestyle to take account of a limited income. Today I continue to cook in bulk because of the busy life I lead. Spending one day a week cooking for the next seven days, means I don't have to spend hours in the kitchen each evening, when I should be resting from long shifts at work.

Picture
My diet has also changed dramatically, since my Gastro Intestinal issues were diagnosed. I am choosing to follow a predominantly plant based diet; meat can be very difficult to digest, for me for at least, so alternatives have been a Godsend as I have tried to make my diet more IBS friendly and healthy. I have never really looked at this type of food before, let alone actually eat it, so it has been a leap into the unknown, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised by the choice out there.

As well as cooking up large pots of Quorn Stew, I am also trying out the other meat alternatives - this week, sausages, Quorn fillets and meatballs. The sausages are particularly delicious, full of flavour and better than normal sausages; yes you heard that right, I actually prefer eating them. Even the sausage rolls taste better in my humble opinion and most importantly do not have any adverse reactions with my GI issues.

However, there is a downside to all this meat free living and it is the cost. It is still far cheaper to eat animal products; if I am honest I would spend half the money I do on my weekly shop, if I could still happily enjoy it, but the truth is I can't. Eating meat is no longer compatible with my well-being and I have had to make dramatic changes to accommodate conditions that I never really knew I had.
Picture
I have discovered many foods that I can still eat - sushi, most fresh vegetables, Brie and Camembert, so at least I can still enjoy some cheese, although I no longer eat any other form of dairy. Also, I can eat most nuts, rice, cereal and my all-time favourite Marmite, which is also great for adding flavour to tofu and Quorn. I have removed all refined sugar, including cakes, chocolate and ice cream from my diet, to my absolute horror. It does seem on the surface at least, that I don't get any enjoyment from food any more and I suppose that is partly true.

All the things I used to enjoy, I can no longer eat; I can't remember the last time I had a piece of extra mature cheddar cheese, a chocolate finger, bottle of wine or tub of Ben and Jerry's, but I have found some friendly substitutes that have helped to ease the cravings. Dairy free desserts and chocolate can be quite appetising and causes me no harm whatsoever. It feels as though my body has started to heal after a lifetime of abuse and eating food that was no good for me at all.
Picture
Because of the changes I have made, I have been able to reintroduce some food that I couldn't eat just a few weeks ago. Until recently I have only been able to eat sourdough bread, but today I have reintroduced the normal, bog standard sliced loaf, which is about a third of the price and in my opinion tastes far better. I can also eat some pies and pastries, but not too much, so today I was able to buy a couple of home made pies from Zerina at Cancer Research and have had no adverse reaction; I am starting to live life again.

IBS is evolving all the time; one day I can eat one thing and on other days not, so I have to work my way around the complexities these ailments cause. I have taken my eating habits back to basics and gradually reintroduced a few items that I can now stomach once again, but it really has been hard work getting here. As someone who has always been able to eat what I want, I have found this process very difficult to deal with, but it has taught me much about myself and the nature of my body. It has shown me a way of living I have never experienced before, consequently making me feel far healthier and looking a lot trimmer than I was.

Over the last six months I have lost a stone in weight, I am walking a lot more and I have finally started to get to grips with my health, which does continue to cause me problems every day. I do feel fitter in many respects, but unravelling the pain that has been a constant in my life has been difficult. I have had to scream from the rooftops to see Doctors and Consultants, especially during this pandemic, but finally the results are beginning to show through. Exercise every morning and night is helping to ease the back pain I suffer with every day, and I am finally feeling positive and relieved, that I understand problems that have plagued my life for too long. If I have learned anything from this period, it's simply, I can change, adapt and make my life better. When I put my mind to something I can achieve all I want to. So far I'm half way there and thank God the light in finally at the end of the tunnel, helping to point the way to a more productive, satisfying and fulfilling life, without the mistakes of the past!
Picture
Picture
Picture

0 Comments

IBS - Changing Diet!

21/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
After another GI diagnosis last Thursday and ongoing pain, I have decided to radically change my diet. I have been feeling so sick in recent times, that this is the only course of action I feel I can take now, to try and ease my symptoms. I have so many Gastric issues, that I really am not sure what to do for the best, but I have started by removing most meat from my diet and have begun the process of transferring to a predominantly plant based diet. This sounds great on the surface and not too difficult to achieve, but when one factors in all my problems it is actually a nightmare.

Keeping meat to a minimum should help to reduce my digestive predicament. Meat is probably the hardest food to consume, for me at least, so anything that reduces this ongoing hurdle is welcome. I have also discovered I can no longer eat dairy and am possibly lactose intolerant, but will have to undergo further tests to find out for sure. Gluten is another area of concern, which seems to be eased by only eating sourdough bread. Then there is IBS, and that is the most demanding condition of all. There is so much I can't eat any more - spicy food to onions, garlic, chocolate and fatty foods, processed and sugary comestibles, curry, chilli and heavy sauces. The difficulty breaking down fat, probably has more to do with my recent diagnosis of gall stones than anything, but it is an extra element to this GI dilemma.

The hiatus hernia, also has its fair share of demands and I have had to give up alcohol, except for a very occasional drink and large portions of food, which are hard to metabolise. The hernia has caused some swallowing difficulties, so I have to chew my food longer and more thoroughly, drinking water after every mouthful; life is becoming such a chore right now. Finally, Diverticular Disease; This has its own unique set of challenges - beans, certain fruit and vegetables and any food that is fermented is detrimental to my constitution. Added together, I am living through a torment, that never seems to end.

Picture
Tonight I cooked a soya bolognaise, used celery instead of onions, peppers, mushrooms and plenty of spinach and it tasted OK, just OK. There wasn't a lot of flavour to it, so I need to find an IBS friendly spice to give it a bit of oomph in the future. I did put a few teaspoons of Marmite in, which did help, but it just had something missing. Cooking for all the conditions I have is going to be difficult, but I am determined not to give up. I'm not able to have the necessary procedures to solve my gastric contentions presently, so will continue very much in the same vein as I am now.

The COVID pandemic has only made my life harder, unable to access many of the services that would help me right now, but I hope, in time, as we move towards the post Coronavirus World, I will finally be able to get to grips with my gastric symptoms. None of these conditions are deadly, but my quality of life has been severely hampered and a determination to get back to normal is the motivation that spurs me ever onwards, every day, hoping to beat the demons that currently plague my thoughts!

Picture
Picture
Picture

0 Comments

Getting Healthy!

22/8/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Keeping fit and trying to lose weight, has always been an activity, I have had difficulty with. I have spent my whole life dieting in one way or another, so it is natural I have reached another crossroads in my life, where I need to do something to get healthy once again. To be honest, I did consider another strict calorie controlled diet, but soon realised it wouldn't work. Why wont it work? Well I have tried that approach many times before and I have always failed somewhere down the line, usually just a few days into it!

This time I wanted to do something different and really start to eat healthier, without restricting myself too much. As an all or nothing person, I have never chosen the middle ground; extremes are my forte. During the times when I did rigorously eat an uncompromising diet, it felt like a prison sentence and I soon got fed up with the austere nature of what I was doing. All I did was crave the things I liked and eat the things I didn't. This was a sure fire way to fail and it wasn't long before I got fed up with the whole palaver and just continued down a self destructive path of binge eating, even in secret.

So today I am cutting down, choosing healthier alternatives and most importantly reducing the size of the meals I eat. On top of this sensible eating plan, I have also decided to reduce the carbohydrates in my diet dramatically, but not altogether. If I stop eating carbs completely, I will crave them all the more and surely fail at the first hurdle. Buying food that is lower in carbohydrates is a good start for me; low carb bread as well as fresh fruit and vegetables and more salads should help me lose weight. Yesterday I also made some Cauliflower Rice, by blending the vegetable up into grain size pieces and quickly frying it in olive oil; served with Chili, it tasted delicious. It worked surprisingly well, despite my initial apprehension and didn't taste of cauliflower at all.

So it's back to healthy eating for me, not a bad thing when one considers the amount of walking I do a day and the cigarettes I no longer smoke. It is about time I took charge of my own destiny, and as I drift towards my fiftieth year, I am fully aware of what I need to do in order to live a longer, healthier life. My body no longer feels and acts like the twenty year old, who used to drink, smoke  and party hard; today it is in need of an MOT and an overhaul, accepting what it can and can't do. Realising ones age and changing ones lifestyle is an important part of maintaining the perfect balance between body and mind. My mind is as healthy as it has ever been, my body, well, just needs work...Could do better as they say. Hopefully this time, I will succeed where I have failed in the past!
Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Bank Holiday!

27/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
This is the first bank holiday weekend I have had off in a long time and today I am nursing a rather niggly hangover. I say niggly, because it isn't bad, just rather annoying. All I want to do is sleep, but I have too much to do and it is getting in the way of what was going to be a productive day.  The weather isn't too bad today, so I've managed to get some washing done, pop into town and am cooking a lasagne for dinner this evening; I am doing my best to be positive today...I could make the same old statement - 'I'm never drinking again,' but that wouldn't be true, so I wont!

Yesterday I met a mate, Deb's from work, she was going to take me on a tour of her local haunts, the places she likes to go to - pubs, clubs and a restaurant on the coast . The weather was pretty much spot on for a day out, despite the odd few drops of rain and we enjoyed an afternoon drink followed by a good old traditional roast in the Thatched House pub, at Milton Locks, Southsea. I have been here once before, when I returned to the UK about a year ago, but not since.

The Thatched House, is a traditional public house serving British food at fantastic prices. I chose to have a carvery at a cost of 7.99 and it was huge. Three meats, roast potatoes and all the trimmings, I couldn't fault it and had absolutely no complaints, which is unusual for me. Suitably full, we went outside for a chat and beer, two things I love more than anything!

After the Thatched House, Deb's took me to The Duke of Devonshire in Albert Road. This traditional back street bar, is similar to the Newcome, where I work and was welcoming and friendly. We continued talking about life, the universe and everything, rather like being on a first date, but we weren't if you understand what I mean. Debbie and I were born a few hours a part at the same hospital in Portsmouth in 1971, so we kind of have a connection and we get on well, having a very similar sense of humour. Friendship is an important part of all our lives, but for me it is even more crucial in order for me to cope with living away from my husband. I have a lot of family and acquaintances around me on a daily basis and Debbie is another welcome addition to my close circle of friends.

After picking up two of Debbie's mates, we headed to Palmerston Road for more beers and a trip to the infamous Kingsley's, a nightclub that I can only describe as enlightening. To be honest I haven't been to a club in years, not since I lived in Spain and I rarely set foot in a straight venue, but the music was great, for an oldie like me and I enjoyed it for what it was. The average age must have been 60 years old and I did feel like the youngest one there...Another first for me. After getting propositioned by a lady old enough to be my Grandmother, I realised all the rumours about this place were true. It was like a cattle market for pensioners; I kid you not. Despite the obvious downsides I had a great day with Debs and felt more relaxed than I have done in a while; I look forward to our next 'Debbie Brown Tour,' there's nothing like letting your hair down to relieve stress, kick back and have a little bit of me time!

Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Day Off - Back to Basics!

23/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I've had a welcome day off today after working for sixteen hours on Wednesday. I actually slept right the way through until 7am this morning, which is amazing for me, especially after waking up at 3am everyday since I have returned from Asia. I guess the jet lag is well and truly over now and my sleeping pattern is back to normal!

I had a few things to catch up on first thing today, but essentially I have spent Thursday cooking up some meals for the rest of the week - not something I have done in a long while!

In Spain money was tight and I embarked on a cost cutting exercise, cooking in bulk and freezing meals, the most economical way to live. It was particularly difficult to buy ready refection and snacks, especially in the urbanization where I lived. So by making healthy nutritious lunches and dinners myself, I was able to create my own convenience meals, eating a balanced sensible diet, without the need of high calorie and high sodium prepackaged food from supermarkets.

Picture
Money is no longer tight, but my busy lifestyle prevents me cooking for myself on a daily basis, so today I went back to basics and began doing what I did best in Spain, cooking hearty meals, to eat quickly in between the two jobs I currently have. Today I made a 'Spicy Spanish Chicken Stew with Pinto beans and Quinoa' and it tasted great and reminded me of my time living in Gran Alacant.

I have to admit, since returning from Spain, my eating habits have somewhat slipped. I have been consuming the most convenient pies, pasties and sandwiches, rather than spending a little time out of my week pre-preparing something a little more salutary. Annoyingly I have put on a few pounds to say the least and was not feeling happy about the direction I was heading in. Today I hope to begin to change that and organise my week more effectively, being able to eat well, without the need to buy high fat food; fingers crossed I keep it up!

Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Health, Health, Health Darling!

23/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
It was another hot day in Gran Alacant. Darrell and I were up early today; I wanted to get a few hours walking under my belt, as part of my new healthy lifestyle. We must have walked about an hour an a half in total, down to Carabassi, stopping off  at Molly Malones for a fresh orange juice, half way along. When I got home my blood pressure had fallen to a far more healthy 127/81; slightly higher than it should be, but far lower than what it has been.
Picture
To be honest I'm not sure what I made today; Lemon Chicken with capers; a dash of white wine, served with noodles. It's the first time I've had capers and I actually quite liked them; salty with a taste of mustard.

Tomorrow, a trip to Alicante, before Chris returns to Britain on Friday!
It was a quick pitstop at Mercadona on the way home, to buy some healthy ingredients, making my own diet meals for the freezer, containing my five a day. There is no point doing exercise, if you continue eating rubbish!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture


0 Comments

All Day Cooking!

17/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
First I wanted to talk about the 'Goulash' I made yesterday; details of which were included in my blog. I had a comment from Eduardo, who posted on 'The Real Truth Blogger,' facebook page, asking me to include a recipe for the dish. In all honesty Eduardo, I never really follow recipes, but will do my best to include it for you. Usually I cook in bulk, so I will reduce the quantities accordingly....

Goulash

600g Stewing Beef
600g Pork
2 large onions
4 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of paprika
1 large green pepper
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce
Large tin of chopped tomatoes
1 Beef OXO Cube
Salt and Pepper to taste
Plain Flour
Olive Oil


1. I usually buy the joins of pork from Lidl, in the GA Centre and chop equal quantities of pork and beef into a bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the top and add the two tablespoons of paprika,  Using clean hands, evenly coat the meat in the olive oil and paprika. Leave the mixture to marinade for a few hours, before cooking.

2. Add four table spoons of flour to a shallow bowl, take each marinaded piece of meat and gently roll it in the flour. The flour will help thicken the goulash, whilst cooking.

3. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pan; when hot enough add the pork and beef; cook until brown.

4. Chop the onions and garlic, add to the browned meat, continue to fry until the onions turn golden.

5. Add the tin of chopped tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, salt and pepper; next sprinkle one beef OXO cube over the stew.

6. Chop the green pepper and stir in well; add more paprika if so desired. I like a lot of paprika, so always go overboard.

7. Finally cook for three to four hours or until meat is tender!


Picture
Please bear in mind, this is my take on a traditional Hungarian dish, so for the purists out there, it will never meet your high expectations. For myself and Darrell however, it is perfect. Most of the time, I don't even use beef, just using pork. It's cheaper to cook that way and tastes just as good.

Hope the recipe is fine Eduardo. If anyone has a better method of cooking this hearty dish, do get in contact!


It's 1pm and I've been up since early this morning cooking. I like to cook in bulk, making my own meals for the freezer. Since I've had three days off, I've been shopping and restocking. I was at Consum first thing, buying ingredients; beginning by cooking up a batch of liver and onions.
Picture
Picture
I've always been a fan of liver, ever since I was a kid; I'm a bit strange like that and will eat most things. Liver is of course cheap; you get a lot for your money. Darrell isn't the biggest fan of it, but will eat it at a push!

Picture
Picture
Next, I prepared some braised kidney, yes more cheap offal. Once again, I love kidney in all its forms, especially steak and kidney pudding. No one else, especially Darrell will eat this 'acquired taste in food,' so this is for me alone. Four meals ready for the freezer. Not enough people eat this kind of food, mainly because of their own phobias. Meat is meat is meat, so get over your prejudged thoughts and eat the stuff; if you are a carnivore like me of course!
Picture
Picture
....and finally. I am cooking Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner this evening, using three quarters of a bottle of red wine; well it is cheaper to buy here, so why not. As a matter of interest, I wanted to ask readers of 'Spanish Views,' a question about the minced beef you buy in Spain. It doesn't actually brown in the same way as it does in the UK and looks a lot lighter in colour. All I can assume, is the cattle are fed on grain rather than grass, but I can't be sure; is this the case? Grain fed Cows produce lighter coloured meat; the taste is also different. Personally I prefer British beef, but what do I know!

Picture
Picture
Just finished eating dinner and brought the washing in. I managed to get three loads done on top of the cooking, writing, finishing my article for the GA Magazine and blogging. I love days like this; really productive and you can actually see an end result. The moral of today is: Get up early and have the whole day at your disposal; then maybe, just maybe, you might achieve all you need to! Eat your heart out  Mrs Beeton!
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Goulash!

16/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
It was a quick trip to Dialprix this morning,  to get ingredients for a goulash I was making. Chris popped along with me, mesmerised by the array of English products on Offer. I have to say, Dialprix is perfect for all those British essentials, hard to get elsewhere. He found a few things, he hasn't seen before as well; namely the 'Brocolli Flower,' in the photo above. So it`s been an old fashioned day of cooking for me, as Darrell slept after his night shift. I've got three days off, so can't think of anything better to do; that and writing, of course!
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture


0 Comments

Roast!

12/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Cooked a roast last night; despite Chris only being here for a while, it's been good to cook for someone else other than  Darrell and myself. When Chris lived with us ten years ago, I was always looking after his culinary needs; best of all he actually quite likes my cooking!

We were talking last night about various different aspects of life, both Christopher's and ours and I was surprised to hear, Chris is nearly 30 years old now. I think myself and Darrell met Chris in his teens, so we have known him nearly 13 years. Time really does fly so fast, the older you get.

Despite moving to Spain, I am lucky to have so many amazing friends, back home in Southampton; people that visit often, Just like Chris. Yesterday, I crossed off another week on the calendar, as someone else booked to stay with us in June. I am happy that we receive so many guests; they still offer that link to home, which is important for me, living my life as an Expat in Spain! If you fancy a visit, just drop me a line; don't be a stranger!
Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Leftovers! You can take the boy outta the gutter, but you can't take the gutter, outta the boy!

27/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A lot has changed in a year; last Christmas I was scrabbling around, trying to find a Euro, to buy a loaf of bread; this year we are both in a far better place financially. We may well be more comfortable than we were, but that doesn't mean we should give up, living as frugally as we always have in Spain. I have written before about the amount of food I used to waste, living in Britain; spending 150€ equivalent a week on groceries, without a second thought; throwing half of it in the bin; three for two offers, but one get one free....You know the sort of thing. In Spain I spend far less, dramatically so, maybe a third of what I used to spend back home.

Christmas in no exception; I remember vividly what it was like surviving on 10€ a week. It wasn't fun, but it did teach me the value of money; I don't waste a thing, that I can't use now. Hard times maketh the man as they say. When I look around me, at the over indulgence, greed and uncaring attitude, I am actually proud of what I have achieved. I am relearning old, thrifty, economical ways of living and actually enjoying it in the process!

With Christmas Day over and done with, I have chopped and blanched the leftover vegetables for the freezer. It is amazing, just how much stuff there is left, enough for God knows how many meals. I learned to cook in this way over a year ago, while I was fending for myself, during Darrell's absence and I continue in much the same vein today. I have become a penny pinching saver, who will not spend money unnecessarily.

If you have leftover food, don't throw it away, store it, freeze it and use it another day!
Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments
<<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!

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

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

    Categories

    All
    Asia 2019
    Australia
    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
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell-in-the-uk
    Dunbars
    Easy-horse-care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating-facts
    Gran Alacant
    Guest Bloggers
    IBS
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    Lockdown Life In Photos
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Memories-of-home
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelope-wren
    Photographs Of Hope
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Reviewing-gran-alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self Isolation
    Shopping
    Short-stories-from-my-youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Teaching-jamie
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Visits From Friends
    Year-in-review-2017
    Year-in-review-2018
    Year-in-review-2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Zest

    Archives

    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
    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

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