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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 must be made. Illness, family bonds, and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in the life of a 'Roaming Brit!'
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Day 10 - British Day!

1/10/2025

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With only a few days left of our trip to Asia, Darrell and I decided to take it easy and avoid the more tourist areas of Singapore. Instead, we decided to go shopping along Orchard Road, where I had heard there were many British shops and goods to choose from.

Now I haven't actually been back in Britain for over three years now, so imagine my excitement, finding Marks and Spencer, in this rather plush district of Singapore. This used to be my go-to, feel good shop, when I lived in the UK. The food was always a family favourite, and I was so happy to stumble across this most British of all British shops, in the middle of Asia. Darrell and I bought a few choice reminders of our UK past, and it was delightful, just walking around, reliving some old memories.

Sadly, Australia doesn't have M&S, although I am able to order online. Even then, you cannot get food, and the homewares section is pretty limited. When you are living abroad, far away from your country of birth, it gives you a warm feeling inside, when you come across shops you've grown up with since childhood.

Of course, this isn't a reason to fly to Singapore alone and even though I could pick up an M&S Mountain Bar and a packet of Percy Pigs, I still don't like this country that much. Singapore has not been the destination I expected, and I won't be sad to leave here on Thursday.
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The prices at Marks & Spencer, Singapore, are pretty high as you can see from the photo's below. With a bag of potatoes approaching $10 a bag, this wouldn't be a place I would shop at too often, even if I did live here. This expat staple is in Singapore to cater for the large, wealthy ex-pat community that reside here and for that reason, you can understand why it was so busy.  There is a huge British/western population living and working in the country; you can see it as you walk around the Orchard Road area. It would certainly be an impressive place to be located, especially if you had the money. Certainly not a place for me to stay long term — Bangkok is more my thing!
Just around the corner from Orchard Road, I did manage to find a Fair Price Supermarket. Now I remembered from my reading on Singapore, that this is where you can buy Marmite, so I took a chance and wondered in to have a look. This distinctly western style supermarket had a lot of British products on the shelves, so I expected to find one in the international food section. Low and behold, after ten minutes of searching, I found one. For S$7.70, I picked up a large jar of the black stuff, to take home as an unusual souvenir. The price here was also a little cheaper than Coles or Woolies in Australia, which just goes to show how much we are ripped off down under!
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For lunch, in keeping with our British themed day, we managed to find a Pizza Express. This is a place I haven't eaten in, for over ten years — the last time I lived in Southampton. It was always a restaurant I enjoyed going to, especially drinking a large pint of Peroni, with a pizza or pasta dish. This time, however, there was no Peroni, because of the antibiotics I am currently taking; so I made do with a Coke Zero instead.

The food was OK, not like the Pizza Express I remember, but it was tasty enough and not overly pricey!
At a cost of S$105 for the two of us, I was pretty impressed. This probably would have cost far more in the UK, and I remember paying a lot more than that ten years ago. Back in the 2000s, Darrell and I used to frequent Pizza Express several times a week. This was always a favourite of ours, especially with our love of Italy. Although not as authentic as eating a pizza in Rome, this restaurant chain offered a pretty close experience in a setting that we loved.

After lunch, we spent a few hours shopping in the beautifully air-conditioned malls. Now, here's my final moan of the blog today: I am fed up with the high-end designer shops in every mall. There are literally no normal shops, that don't involve taking out a second mortgage. Everything in Singapore is expensive, aimed at the super rich. Normal, average Singaporeans and tourists, like me, can't afford thousands of dollars. 

The Malls themselves are magnificently designed, and a cool retreat from the heat of the day, but even here you can't escape the expensive nature of these places. There is very little seating for older people like me to sit down and rest, and after another, 20000 steps, I do need to take the weight off my lallies occasionally. The shopping centres want you to spend money, not sit and recuperate from the heat outside.

​I find Singapore rather pretentious. There isn't much to do here, if you are a peasant like me, and I find the people rather rude and entitled. As stunning as this country is, it lacks character, kindness, and a soul. I would never return here in the future, it just isn't for me! This may well seem harsh to you, but having stayed all over this region, there are far better countries to explore. I am glad I visited, but could never see me returning again — We are all different after all!
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Marmite From Home - The perfect gift!

30/3/2025

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This week I received a package from home. A friend I have known, since I worked at The Newcome Arms in Portsmouth, was chatting with me shortly after Christmas, about my new life in Australia. Gez was always a ray of sunshine — as I worked behind the bar, he often made me laugh and always made me feel welcome, included and appreciated, despite my rather dubious Bartender skills. He was, and undoubtedly still is, full of life, happy, and an absolute joy to be around. It's people like Gez I miss every day living in Perth, and one of the many reasons I still have a deep fondness for the country of my birth.

Gez was chatting about Christmas, and all the food he had to throw out, listing delicacies you can only find in Britain. Top of his list was good old 'Twiglets,' a savoury snack I have loved since I was a wee child. Apparently, according to my late Mother, 'Twiglets' are healthier than other similar treats, and I was actively encouraged to enjoy this acquired taste, in moderation of course.

Now, I have no idea if these are healthier than any other crisp, but they sure are tastier. Back in the day when I was young, these twig shaped Marmite sticks, were bigger than they are now. Apparently, health and safety deemed them a choking hazard; these twigs would often get stuck in my throat, so god knows what happened to other potential victims. However, I am digressing — Gez was explaining how much he disliked them, and just how many tubs he had thrown out, to my absolute horror.

​'Gez mate, No, don't do that, I love them. Rather than throw them out, send them my way!' Even though I can get Twiglets here in Australia, the packets are small, and they cost nearly $4.00 a time, and a tub of them is impossible to get. Consequently, I'd be more than happy to take them off Gezs' hands, despite being thousands of miles away.

To be honest, I didn't think anymore about our conversation, after my off the cuff comments, until Gez asked if he could have my address; he had something he wanted to send to me. Six weeks later, I received a rather large parcel at my parcel collect address here in Perth. For those of you who don't know what Parcel Collect is, let me enlighten you:

The postal service in Australia is particularly insecure, rather like it is in Spain. Having lived in both countries, I can't tell you how many times I have lost parcels in their respective postal systems, so having a secure address for deliveries is essential. Mail is normally delivered to post boxes at the end of drives, and these poorly maintained boxes are often broken into and items stolen.

The post office in Midland contacts me when mail arrives, and I collect it, mostly without a hitch. It had been six weeks since Gez sent his parcel, and I believed it had gone missing, as so many others do here. What with the floods over east, and the lack of tracking, there is any number of reasons why, but, when I picked it up, I could immediately see it was from Portsmouth, and I realised it was from Gez.

​Inside the box were four large tubs of 'Twiglets' and two jumbo jars of Marmite. Gez had remembered our conversation, and decided he would send me some provisions. He really does have a heart of gold and made my day. I haven't had British Marmite for years now, and although we do get 'Our mate,' which is the Aussie equivalent, it still doesn't taste quite the same; I was delighted to have some proper stuff from back home, and the taste is, well, glorious — if that's your kind of thing.

Living so far from home, you do begin to realise who your friends are. I was introduced to many new friends and colleagues while living in Portsmouth, and they are some of the best people I have ever met. Gez is an example of someone, who has quite simply left an indelible mark on my heart. When you meet the good ones in life, grab hold of them, keep them close and never let go — these are the friends who keep the memories alive, wherever I am in the World!
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Just One More Piece In The Jigsaw Left!

16/12/2022

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What a week it has been, I literally haven't stopped. My focus, for the most part, has been on getting a job, for when I am finally allowed to work on the 28th December. I have gone all out to achieve that goal in record time, hoping for the best, but anticipating the worst. The pessimist in me is still there, unshakable as ever. However, sometimes I can shake him off and do good things to achieve the unthinkable. This has certainly been a week of attainment, but like everything in our life, there has been an annoying sense of dread, as everything come hurtling down the track at once.

The week started on a high note; I had an interview with a lady called Elissa at 'Retail World Resourcing' in Perth. She had come across my CV on 'Indeed Australia' and said she could help me find a job. To be honest, I was expecting the same sort of position I had in the UK - working a checkout or a placement on the customer service desk of a large supermarket. However, being interviewed by Elissa on 'Google Meet,' I soon became aware that that wasn't what she had in mind.

My CV is long and varied, encompassing the time I lived in Spain and also in the UK. There are many different jobs highlighted, from my appointment as cook at Dunbar's Family Restaurant in Gran Alacant, teacher at a school in Elche, to working behind the bar at the Newcome Arms in Portsmouth and of course my much loved Customer Service role in Tesco Fratton. My lack of consistency would be a problem forging any semblance of a career in Australia, in my view, but nothing could have been further from the truth.

Elissa encouraged me to apply for three Management roles immediately, which she believed I would be suitable for. Within 24 hours, she had arranged an interview with a bedding and soft furnishing outlet, less than ten minutes from where I am living now. There were two positions available - Manager and Assistant Manager, salaries ranging from $40,000 - $61,000 + per annum. Naturally I assumed I would be interviewing for the Assistant Manager role, but I soon discovered, shortly after the interview began, that that wasn't the case, and they were looking for me to take on the position of Shop Manager.

Don't get me wrong, I have managed shops and businesses before, but I wasn't expecting to be a candidate for a large store manager, only a few months after arriving in Australia. The penny must have dropped whilst I was being interviewed by Jack from HR. Both of us got on like a house on fire. This was the first interview I felt really positive and at ease; he said he would contact me when he had made a decision about going forward to the next stage. In reality, I thought no more of it, not expecting to hear back, and got on with the rest of my day.

Shortly before 5pm that same day, Elissa contacted me to say Jack wanted me to attend a formal conversation with the Regional Manager, on Tuesday on Microsoft Teams. A little taken aback, I agreed and prepared myself for an interview I never really believed I would get.

Georgina was lovely and once again I felt positive throughout the hour-long process. Despite a slight technical glitch five minutes towards the end of the interview, everything went well, and I felt like I had at least achieved something. Practising for an interview is invaluable, and this would be a stepping stone towards others I had lined up in the future.
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The next day was Wednesday, the day I had arranged my medical at 'Bupa Visa Services' in Perth city centre. This was a make or break day, where I would find out if I could actually stay in Australia or not. Darrell was also off work, so we got the morning train to Perth, where we had a coffee and slice of cake at 'Dome' in St George's Terrace. Not sure if that was particularly wise, eating sugary cake before a medical, but I had waited so long for this day, I just didn't care and enjoyed every bit of it and the peppermint tea to boot.

At 11.45 I arrived at the clinic; they began by doing a chest X-ray, followed by blood and urine tests, for HIV and Diabetes and then a full check up by a Doctor, who poked and prodded me about, took my weight and height and asked me a number of probing questions. I was in and out within half an hour; all done and dusted for the princely sum of $500. Shocking for what they actually did, but this was the last piece in the jigsaw, for my application to remain in Australia and all part of the course. This whole process will have ended up costing me near on $20,000 by the end, whether I fail the medical or not. This is of course the only stumbling block to us settling in Australia. If I fail it, I am out, and we will have to leave. I won't know for a while whether I am home and dry or not. I just hope to God it is positive news for a change.

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Medical complete, Darrell and I headed to The Belgian Beer Café for a well-earned pint of Stella. Here we met Darrell's old school friend Dana, who was an absolute delight. It was great to talk to someone outside our rather close, small group of friends, who understands more than most, the difficulties we had experienced on our journey together. We don't often get the time to spend with other people, so it makes a pleasant change to listen to others perspectives on life. Dana said all the right things and made both of us feel content with our choices, who could really ask for more.

From The Belgian Beer Café, we headed to Durty Nelly's for a cheap Wednesday Sirloin Steak and chips, costing the equivalent of £9.00 a pop. That is amazing value, and it is always cooked to perfection, and tastes great. For me, sat in this little Irish bar, I am transported back to Europe; it is an oasis in the middle of a large city, where Darrell and I can unwind and relax. Topped off with an ice cream from London Court, and we had reached the end of a perfect sunny day in Perth; In less than 24 hours I would find out if I had the job or not. I wasn't holding out too much hope, but a little piece of me just dared to dream... What if?

Early Thursday morning, Elissa phoned. I held my breath, preying we would finally get some good news. She began by congratulating me on three perfect interviews, followed by -  the offer! Yes, the offer of a full time position, earning approximately $60,000 a year before enhancements and Superannuation on top. She mentioned a number of other benefits, but I was too busy dreaming to take it all in. I had actually got a position I wanted in a few days, with hard work and determination. If everything else works out, and I pass my medical, this would literally be the new start we both need and that last piece of the jigsaw would be within reach at last; I can nearly taste the freedom. Of course, nothing is over until the fat lady sings and the pessimist is still lurking large, but maybe, just maybe, we can start to live our life again!
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More Marmite(ish) products to add to my stash today. Only yesterday I was thinking about Twiglets, as you do, and how I really fancy a packet or two for Christmas. Well today, I ventured down the British isle in Coles to get some 'Our Mate' or Marmite for those living in the UK, and found my all-time favourite, go to snack of choice, Twiglets! They were pricey, but not that expensive, a little over $2.00 a packet, so not too bad and when I raid my piggy bank tomorrow, I shall be back to buy the lot. Christmases are made of these.

I also tried a Coles Vegemite Scroll; the next best thing when you can't find a Marmite spin off, is a Vegemite one, because they taste more or less the same. It tasted delicious, even though I can't abide Vegemite itself. For a poor old British expat like me, it is the perfect salty alternative and highly recommended if you are in Coles, Midland Gate.

Stay safe y'all!
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If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

16/11/2022

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I had an early start yesterday, getting the train to Fremantle to hand in a CV for a job in this historic town. The hour-long journey, stopping at every station, and believe me there are a lot of stations, isn't really something I wanted to do every morning, so in many respects I was glad things turned out the way they did.

On handing in the relevant paperwork, I was asked to do a test, which should have taken about an hour. Looking at it, I was dumbstruck, this wasn't the job I was applying for, this was an A level paper, and I was not in the slightest bit interested.

I want a job that pays the bills and gives me as much time to explore Australia as possible; this test was a warning, that it was a position best avoided. So I politely made my excuses and left, practically running down the road and back into the centre of Freo. To be honest, I don't care what they thought. I was looking for a job in retail, a front facing customer service role, and this was not it; it would not have suited me at all. Still, we live and learn. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, so next time I'll be careful where I apply!

Despite a disappointing end to the morning, I made the most of the rest of the day, sitting in the 31 degree heat, quietly passing the time with a cup of ginger and lemon tea and an ice-cold glass of water, badly needed in the scorching temperatures.

I do love Fremantle as a place to visit, but I really don't think I would want to travel in to work there every day, let alone live there. Fremantle really is just a tourist destination. There are small boutique shops, all overpriced, and expensive cafés and restaurants. Yesterday, I fell out of love with the place and left hurriedly, taking the train to Perth for a spot of lunch!
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I went into the Belgian Beer Café as usual to grab a pint, after walking up Murray street to get Darrell a couple of vapes for $50.00 (£28.47,) from the tobacconists. Apparently there is no nicotine in the vapes he buys, it is illegal, and I believe from what Darrell said, they use a substitute chemical instead. It does however seem to work for him, and he hasn't touched cigarettes since he has been back!

Now I have personally never vaped in my life, but it does feel rather odd, that you can sell cigarettes, but you can sell nicotine vapes.

After listening to a recent debate on Australian television, it appears the Government believe there is more research to be done on any harmful effects, before they even consider legalising it. This of course won't stop people like Darrell from smoking them, and prohibition only drives the practice underground, which is happening in states across the country.

The new summer menu is out at the Belgian Beer Café, so there was no Roast Beef Baguette, but Fish and chips instead. Usually at home in Britain I would have Cod, but here it's something totally different, Barramundi and Chips, which actually tasted lovely. It had a much stronger taste than the British equivalent and a considerably firmer texture than Cod; This was a meal I thoroughly enjoyed.

From Murray Street, I spent a few hours looking around the city, and ended up at The Shoe for a final pint of Carlton and a train ride home. With Darrell working, I've been getting to know Perth as best I can. Luckily it has a fantastic, cheap, transport system that works remarkably well. I quite enjoy spending time to myself, travelling around this city. After all, if everything goes right, I won't be doing it for much longer!
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Now I know it's not Marmite, but after seeing this Vegemite and cheese ready cooked chicken in Coles on the way home, it got me thinking what I could do with Marmite instead. Like most people, I use the black stuff a lot in my cooking. Whether adding it to sauces and gravy, or putting it on roast potatoes before cooking, I use it all the time.

Vegemite is a big thing over here, there are a lot of 'spin off' products that have Vegemite in the ingredients, and although I don't personally like it, it is easy to see why. Marmite could do far better. I've messaged Julio on the chicken counter at Tesco to get lubing the chooks up with the black stuff, it tastes bloody lovely, Vegemite or not.

Also this morning on 'Sunrise,' the Ozzy version of 'Good Morning Britain,' they had a feature on ice cream, in particular Vegemite Ice cream. Now that is something I'd like to try. I have tried similar products in the UK, especially the Marmite chocolate, which I enjoyed, and I used to spread Marmite on Chocolate biscuits myself as a child, but I'm not too sure about the ice cream. Nevertheless, if I see it, I will certainly give it a go!

For now, adios amigos, have a wonderful day!
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Perth - Our go to place to escape, when things get rough!

4/11/2022

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'Perth is my go-to place; in this unforgiving World, we all need to escape and God knows, Darrell and I need to escape more than most!'
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It was another day out in the city for Darrell and me on Wednesday. We had a lot to talk about, and spending a few hours away, is the only time we get to chat and make plans for the future. I have been hearing from people back home quite a lot over the last few weeks and as lovely as it is, it does make Darrell and I feel homesick at times. Both of us have had numerous video chats with close friends, all saying the same thing - 'Make sure you stay where you are, there is literally nothing to go back to Britain for.' I can see that; every day at 7am, SBS shows the British news from the night before, and it does look particularly dysfunctional in the UK at the moment. I would never return for the country, but the people are a different matter.

Yesterday, my close friend and old boss Zerina messaged me and gave me a bit of a motivational talk. Those I have kept in contact with, understand our struggles, and they have been instrumental in keeping us in Perth. I understand this is a difficult journey, we never thought it would be any different, and the encouragement we have received is beyond anything we could have expected. On Wednesday, as we sat in 'Coffee Club' drinking tea and eating cake, we both reassured one another about the path we were now on. After half an hour, we both started to feel better, as we always do. We are both well aware of where we are better off, but the frustration we feel at the slow progress is palpable.

Walking around the streets of the capital in blazing sunshine, we could be forgiven for thinking we are in paradise, but bubbling under the surface, the remains of the COVID-19 pandemic still festers away. The reason why we feel so stuck right now, is because of the extended closure of Australia and Western Australia in particular. Things are beginning to change, with the first not stop flight from the USA landing in the country only this week, but these are small baby steps, and we have to keep the faith, while Australia reopens for business and normality returns.

After receiving police checks from The UK and Spain, I was able to finalise the paperwork for my Spouse visa this week and everything is now in the hands of our solicitor. Wednesday was about relaxing after a very busy month and according to my Migration Agent the 'superfast' time I was able to gather all my documents and files together for this decidedly expensive $10,000 visa application.
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After a short walk around Elizabeth Quay, we headed for lunch at 'Durty Nelly's' Irish pub, just off Hay Street. This traditional Irish bar is tucked away down a side alley, in-between a number of other restaurants and cafés. I stumbled across it last week, vowing to come back. The setting reminded me very much of my time in Thailand, surrounded by lush greenery and picturesque local venues - all rather civilized and cosmopolitan.

It was wonderful, just sat there relaxing and enjoying the heat of the day with a pint and the reassurance that my application to stay was coming to an end. We ordered a steak lunch which, for Australian standards, was very reasonably priced at a bargain $18.00 each. I have never eaten anything so cheap in Perth since I have been here. The food was delicious, full of flavour and perfectly cooked. At that moment, I felt happy to be home and no matter what gets thrown at us over the next few months, we do at least have a place to escape to when things get rough - rather like my hair in the picture above; rough isn't the word!
After lunch, we took a stroll to Forrest Chase, to catch the train to Bassendean. There was a demonstration in the square, over the murder of aboriginal boy Cassius Turvey. Thankfully the perpetrator is in custody, but this was an attack that was carried out in Midland, right on our door step. As I listened to the emotional speeches, by family, officials and friends, I realised that no matter how stunning this country is, it still suffers from the same anti-social problems we do in the UK. Wherever you live in the World, murder, violence, knife and gun crime will always exist, and my eyes were opened to the issues that Australia has, when dealing with the appalling treatment of indigenous people. Darrell and I have our problems, for sure, but they are nothing compared to the injustices suffered by the Aboriginal community.

Darrell's Cousin Tash picked us up from Bassendean, where we spent the evening with her and his Aunty Alice. To be honest, I was feeling particularly tired after being unable to sleep for most of the night. Darrell's Mother, takes steroids once a week as part of her treatment for cancer, and it does keep her and the rest of us awake. Yes I felt exhausted, but once again I am not suffering from cancer, so should thank my lucky stars I am well, and stop bloody complaining so much.

After a delicious dinner and quality time with family, it was time to leave. It is days like this that make me realise how lucky I am to lead the life I do. There aren't many people who have travelled as extensively as Darrell and me and lived in multiple countries. Chatting with family in Australia, I am well aware of the amazing life I have. When things get tough, as they inevitably do, I have the memories I made to keep me grounded and focused on the task at hand. Starting a new life down under, after a worldwide pandemic in the middle of a European war and an economic crash was never going to be easy; I guess I'm not doing too badly really!
Marmite Watch
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...And finally

The last time I lived abroad in Spain, I did everything I could to make sure I had my essential jar of Marmite. I can remember vividly talking to the owner of the British Supermarket in Gran Alacant, pleading with him to stock some bigger jars of Marmite. At the time, six years ago, he only had the small jars in stock and used to charge a whopping 5 Euro a jar.

I have no idea what they cost now, but just before I returned to the UK, he managed to get in the bigger jars. That's got to be the story of my life, really - always just missing out at the last minute!

Anyway, it is far easier to get hold of the black gold in Australia. If you thought Brits were addicted to the stuff, well, Ozzies are absolutely besotted. Of course, they have their own Marmite, Ozemite, Promite, Mightymite, Vegemite, in fact every bloody mite you can imagine... IT REALLY IS A 'MITE' lover's dream here! As I have recently discovered, they also sell the original British stuff, although due to them having their own Marmite and copyright laws, it's called 'Our Mate,' and it is most certainly the real deal.

However, I have got quite used to Ozemite in particular and quite like the taste, but you really can't beat the real stuff, and I am thankful to have found it in the British section of Woolworths supermarket in Midland Gate for a bargain price of $4.80. One happy Brit!
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Shopping the GA Way!

20/2/2018

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Back to basics today and a few words about shopping. I have just got back from doing my weekly shop; which can often be challenging, living in Spain. Today I have been to five different shops, in order to get everything I need for the next week. I always go to Lidl for the basics, preferring to buy groceries everyday on my morning walk around Gran Alacant.

Today I had to take a trip up to the top of the hill, not far from where I used to live. I had to go to the pharmacy to try and get hold of those packets of Asprin I needed a week ago, in order to thin the blood and prevent a heart attack. To be honest, it's my own paranoia that wants me to buy them. I understand I have to eventually make an appointment at the Doctors, but the process is so laborious, having to arrange an interpreter, that I just don't have the time to mess around. Buying these at 1'30€ a packet, rather than the 5€ Darrell paid, should give me peace of mind at least. Thanks to Jackie, who lives locally in Gran Alacant, I was able to get the right medication and not pay over the odds for a change!

Next it was a stopover at the English Supermarket Quicksave to get a few herbs and spices for dinner this evening. To my surprise, I found the big 500 gram jars of Marmite, not something I have seen in Spain before and only 5'95€; an absolute bargain price. A big thank you to Quicksave for getting them in. For a Marmite addict like me, it's just like winning the lottery.

Lastly it was a quick stop at Unide, to pick up a local paper, some freeze dried corn, that I love and tomato juice for a Bloody Mary or two. It was interesting to see the headline 'Shopping Days Limited,' in the Costa Blanca News. The local Valencian Regional Government, recently voted to limit the number of Sundays and Red Days shops can open. Outlets in larger tourist zones had been allowed to open throughout the year; the new rules will mean having more limited opening times, closing on many of these lucrative shopping days.

This is of course in stark contrast to the British way of doing things, who tend to allow unrestricted shopping hours on public holidays and Sundays. I am not sure which system works best. On one hand workers are given far more time off in Spain, especially when one considers the number of bank holidays here, are more than double that of the UK and it also keeps Sunday as a day of rest, which is a good thing for families. Having said this, the Spanish economy is in a bit of a mess and could do with the economic boost seven day a week opening allows. A curtailment could quite possibly be a step backwards; make up your own mind on that one.

Bags unpacked, it's time for me to cook dinner, Peri Peri Chicken!
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Residencia!

21/12/2017

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Foreign Office, Alicante

It was a 9am start and a quick trip into Alicante this morning. Darrell's Residencia card had finally come through at the Foreign Office. It has taken a long time to get to this point, mainly because of the slow Spanish Governmental system, that deals with official paperwork, documents and applications. Darrell's legal status is now the same as mine and there are no longer any conditions on his length of stay in Spain. We are both lucky enough to have completed this process, before the date, Britain leaves the European Union, hopeful that we will have no further hoops to jump through, when Brexit finally kicks in; something we will not know for sure until March 19th 2019.... 

Alicante/Urbanova Beach

....We decided to have a quick stopover at the beach on the way home. Despite the early morning cloud, you could see Alicante clearly to the left and Urbanova to the right. It was lovely taking in the views, breathing in the warm Spanish air and enjoying ten minutes of quiet tranquility, away from Gran Alacant....
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Banco Sabadell, Gran Alacant

....Next it was a rather brief stay at Banco Sabadell. Usually we are waiting at least an hour to get served, in a country that enjoys queuing more than the UK; today it was straight to the counter, to show the cashier Darrell's new Residencia card, which allows them to remove, all those nasty non resident charges, applied to foreign national accounts in Spain....
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 ​marmite watch:
 consum, Gran Alacant
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....Finally we stopped at Consum in the GA Centre, to get last minute supplies for Christmas and a couple of jars of Marmite. I am still very price conscious living in Spain; having paid 3'45€ for a small jar of Marmite two days ago, I wanted to get in some more, just in case the whole of Spain is shut for a week at Christmas, as is usually the case during a public holiday. Consum is usually the cheapest supermarket to buy the black stuff and as it happens, it was; 2'99€ is a bargain price for Spain, so I grabbed a few while I was there. After a quick trip to the market, to pick up the veg for Christmas dinner, it was a glass of Rioja to celebrate the end of a very rocky road and an hour long siesta to compensate for the early start!
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Bad Weather, Bargain Hunting, Bailing Out!

13/3/2017

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We set off this morning, driving to Alcampo, on the far side of Alicante. I was after some bargains; Alcampo offers the best deals on meat and other produce.  Driving their, once a month, is ideal; stocking up on everyday  essentials.

To be honest, when we planned to go, we didn't expect the weather to be as bad as it was.  The storm started last night.  I had just drifted off to sleep, when there was a deafening clap of thunder over head.  In the morning, it was still as bad, if not worse.  Still we decided to go anyway, as our cupboards were bare, just like Old Mother Hubbard!

The drive was a bit treacherous at times; we even managed to get lost, forgetting to take the fly over out of Alicante, stuck on the main road to Benidorm; eventually we got there, amid tension and recrimination; I jest, just a slight disagreement!
Alcampo, at Plaza Mar, my favourite supermarket!
As soon as we got there, Darrell did his usual, ate a McDonalds, so he didn't spend so much on shopping.  Never understood that concept myself; it just adds extra money to the shopping bill.  He actually spent 104€, far more than I usually do; that says it all really, don't go shopping with your partner....EVER!
I made the obligatory visit to the pet shop, opposite the supermarket.  In Britain we do not sell cats and dogs from such places, in Spain, well, anything goes. Actually they all looked well cared for!
We had a look at the cost of freezers, also.  I do cook all my food from scratch these days, so eventually could do with another freezer, to store the meals, I cook in bulk, although, a friend in Gran Alacant, is on the look out, for a second hand one for me!
Looking for the best value cat food; always a challenge!
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One of the most annoying things about Spain, is the cost of light bulbs.  Light bulbs, I hasten to add, that keep blowing, because Iberdrola, do not allow enough wattage into my casa,  Needless to say, I will stick to the Chinese shop, to buy these expensive luxury items!
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To my absolute delight, they actually sold large jars of Bovril, usually unheard of in Spain, mind you at 4.95€, they aren't cheap!
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Oh, I picked up a packet of this.  I have no idea what it is, or how you cook it, so if anyone knows, can you please let me know!
When we left Alcampo, it was raining, worse than ever.  The drive home was horrendous, I thought we were going to die on several occasions!
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When we got home, the storm was still ranging outside, and in, so it was time to start clearing up a flooded lounge and bedroom.  I have never experienced so much rain , since moving to Spain.  In all honesty, it hasn't stopping raining since November.  Like most people in Gran Alacant, we will be spending the evening cleaning up the debris left behind, from yet another inclement day!
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British Staples!

24/1/2017

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What the rest of the world think!
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I have just come across this article on the internet and thought it would be of interest to my readers.  It describes in photographs, different displays of British food, in supermarkets, for the expat community, in different countries of the world.  It is interesting to see what each country regards as a British staple.

I myself was up early this morning, shopping.  Up until recently I used to shop in Lidl, but have switched along with Katie and am now, shopping at Mercadona, in Gran Alacant.  If you shop wisely, Mercadona is actually much cheaper, as I discovered recently.  This is a change from what I believed to be true at the beginning of my stay in Spain, always shopping in Lidl, but as they say, we learn as we meander through life. Today I spent 22,80€ and that will get me through a week, yes a whole week.  A little bit different from those days shopping in Tesco or Waitrose and the 120 pound bill at the end of it.

Like all the other supermarkets that I have been into, Mercadona has its own British section, including what it regards as British fodder.  Sadly they have failed in every respect, in fact out of all the shops selling such goods, Mercadona has the worst display.  I wish I had taken a picture today, but completely forgot. In all honesty, none of these establishments have to sell anything from the Mother country, so the fact they do is a bonus in itself.  Mercadona's section was quite sparse and didn't include the biggest essential item of all Marmite.  Everywhere else sells the black stuff, just not the Spanish leading supermarket.  Good for them, keep it Spanish, because everything else, is great.  Paying 2,00€ for 500g of mince meat, can't be bad.  In fact all the meat on sale there is much cheaper than I have seen anywhere else!
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If I need anything British, I usually go to my local shop, Unide, a short walk away from where I live. They have a fantastic range of produce and compared to most other places are much cheaper when trying to find items from home.  The thing is, the price you pay, does vary dramatically  in Spain.  In Unide I would usually pay about 2,95€ for a small jar of Marmite, in Dialprix, today I paid 3,85€; that is a huge difference in price.

Dialprix, however does have the best British range of goods on offer, but shopping around is key, because of the variation in price.  With some items, being as much as 1€ more expensive, depending where you shop, it really does pay, to look around carefully, especially when on a budget.  It can be a bit hard work at times, especially when you just want to go to one shop and buy your weekly groceries, but it is just the way things are out here and it isn't going to change anytime soon, if at all. In reality the shopping culture in Spain is very different to that in The UK!
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The one thing you should remember is, you are going to have to pay over the odds, for whatever British products you want or need, during your stay away from home.  There are however many ways you can purchase everyday essentials.  Many Spanish towns and cities, will have dedicated, specialist, British outlets.  If you are thinking of moving further South in Spain, you will also find a vast aray of British shops in Gibraltar.  Maybe take a trip over the boarder and see what is on offer, especially with a weak pound
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I have also come across many online shops, based in Britain, selling goods to expats overseas and have included a couple of links here.  Just click on the photograph to take you to the shop.  These online stores are a great way of obtaining items that are not readily available in the foreign country you are living in.  There are delivery charges, but, as with most of these shops, the more you buy, the cheaper it becomes and the delivery charge isn't that much of a problem. 
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Wherever you are living in the world, you can be sure of obtaining your favourite British food. We live in a highly globalized time, where connections between people and countries are closer than they ever have been. It is easy the have items sent to your home address, although a few words of caution. The postal service in Spain, is not as good as many others across the globe.  In my opinion, the use of postal boxes, away from ones home, is a security risk.  If you are going to have regular parcels sent from abroad, I would advice you get a postal box. Many places offer this service, from banks to estate agents, and you do have the guarantee of receiving items, that could otherwise get lost in the Spanish postal system, which is easily done over here!

A final few words about 'Marmite'.  This is the only thing I can not do without, living in Spain. At nearly 4,00€ for a small jar, it is very expensive. Ideally shops need to stock the bigger jars. Don't be afraid to ask those behind the counter, to see if they can stock something you want, but currently can't get, especially in the British supermarkets. We have found them to be obliging and do all they can to accommodate your request. Sending a 400g jar of Marmite, from the UK, could be cost prohibited; a false economy, so speaking to those who currently stock British items, is the best way forward, after all, they can only say no!
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A matter of economics!

8/11/2016

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Making Ends Meet

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Living in Spain has taught me much about life.  One of the biggest changes I have made, is due to economics.  The stark reality is, I don't have as much disposable income here, as I did in the UK; not only me, but many others who live in  Gran Alacant, Spanish and British alike.

Food shopping, the items I buy and how much I spend, is a change I am actually very proud of.  I have said before, that I could spend anywhere, up to 150€ a week on groceries in the UK, here, I have got that down to 60€, although over the last month, with money being tight, I managed to lower my spend further, to 20€ a week.

There is no waste in my household anymore.  Food goes further, all leftovers are kept and frozen; there is no such thing as a second portion anymore.  We eat what is necessary, no more no less.  

​One has to be innovative in one's outlook.  Rinsing out Marmite and Bovril jars, with hot water, before throwing away, produces homemade stock cubes, to be frozen and used when required.  Buying cheaper cuts of meat, for me Liver is great, I love it, saves a fortune.  Bulk buying, and freezing the remainder is also a must.

The British do waste a lot of money on food, that is just thrown away. The Spanish, that I know, use everything and waste nothing.  It is a bit like going back in time here, but it will teach me more than I would have ever learned in the UK!
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