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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 11 - Farewell to an old friend; last day in Singapore!

1/10/2025

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After flying 10000 km from the UK for the briefest of time, Justin was gone. It was lovely to see him, even if it was short, and it made me realise just how much I do miss home. From London, Justin is flying onwards to Spain, two back to back holidays in a two-week period. There would have been a time when I could have done that myself, but these days I would rather not!

Since leaving the UK in 2015, Justin has visited us in Spain and the far east, and he has always been a tremendous source of support. Don't get me wrong, we have had our ups and downs in life, but we have always been there for each other. I have said this many times before and will say it again, I do have the deepest respect for Justin and for all he has achieved in life. His successful career is a tenotomy to his hard work over the years. Both of us have had periods of inactivity, but we have got through the worst life can throw our way and have become the success we both are today — well him more than me, but who's counting.

I am of course sad to see him go, but life goes on and we both have our own lives to lead. I'm sure we will all see one another again in some other part of the World, until then we have the memories to take with us on our journey!
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With Justin safely on his way to London, Darrell and I spent a relaxing last full day in Singapore. We made our way to our favourite part of this great city, China Town, where we browsed around the many stalls and shops, buying yet more stuff to take home with us. We, we do have a 30 kg limit each, so why not fill it. 

Darrell and I have a lot of collectables from our travels all over the World, sadly most of them now lost, as we moved countries three times over the years. In some respects, I think I collect stuff, because of the items I lost over our 30 years together. The nature of our relationship is such, that we have never stayed in one place too long. Consequently, we haven't been able to establish ourselves in one place long enough, to accumulate the things most people have built up over many generations. Having said that, I am giving it a good go now though. I do love things around me, it does make me feel somewhat secure in my surroundings. Australia is still, even today, unfamiliar to me, so I am doing all I can to settle into my new home; buying items on our travels helps create memories and connections with our recent past — important when you are building a new life! 
China Town is such a down to earth place and despite not loving Singapore as much as I would have liked, I do adore this area. I am not a pretentious old Queen, who loves designer brands — I like a bargain, something cheap and cheerful that lifts my mood. China Town offers bargains galore in a relaxed setting away from the super rich side of Singaporean life.  Yes there is a lot of money, in this low tax ex British colony, but there is also the normal side of life, with people doing their best to survive in this harsh money making environment.

Having said that, there is a harder sell culture in this area. With money tight, street vendors do fight for every customer, which does make it very difficult to relax and browse, without being hassled to buy something. I am pretty easy to give in and buy anything, whereas Darrell isn't. He will walk away, I generally won't.
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After China Town, we made our way towards the city centre, where we stumbled across a huge hawker centre on Cross Street. Now why is it, you always find the best place to eat on your last day. This vast centre is full of different stalls serving a cosmopolitan array of food, from all over the World. The smells as you enter this place are unbelievable and really does play with your senses. This large building is impressive, and I just wish we had found it earlier.

The prices here are also unbelievably cheap. On our first night, we had a meal on Marina Bay, which cost about S$200 for two of us. It was nothing out of the ordinary, although the food was good, but I mistakenly assumed that this would be the price we would pay throughout our brief stay. However, in this popular hawker centre, we paid S$17.00, yes S$17.00 Singaporean dollars for two of us. Now that is impressive, and the food tasted great as well.

If we do return to Singapore in the future, this will be a first port of call for us, as we navigate the World's most expensive country. For all my criticisms of Singapore, the hawker centres and China Town make up for the overpriced, designer, pretentious side of this place, which I absolutely hate. 

Tomorrow we leave for Australia and the end of another interesting few weeks in Asia. As is usual with me, it hasn't turned out in the way I would have hoped. After getting another infection, I have had to adjust my itinerary to cope with my change in circumstances. Nevertheless, I have been delighted to do all I have done and hope to learn from the mistakes I made, returning to this special part of the World in the future!
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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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Day 8 - First day in Singapore, wasn't what I expected!

29/9/2025

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Well it wasn't the start to our stay in Singapore I wanted, but after arriving at Chiangi Airport, I was noticeably worried about the wound on my arm, which was showing serious signs of infection. Now look, I have been here before, so know what I have to do. The difference this time, of course, was the nature of the injury. If I had left it alone in the first place, after the fall, it probably wouldn't have got as bad as it did. 

My overcautious approach was born from previous experience. I have contracted two very serious forms of Staphylococcus on the last two holidays I went on, so the panic that followed my tumble on the boat on the second day of our holiday in Bangkok, was noticeable! I wasn't prepared to go through the IV antibiotics I had in the past, and tried everything to stop any infection before it started. It is likely I did too much, way too much, and should have left well alone.
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While Darrell made his way to our riverfront hotel, I took a taxi straight to Raffles hospital in the centre of the city. I had a particularly funny conversation with the driver, who accidentally took me to the world-famous Raffles Hotel. He looked confused, when I said 'No Raffles Hospital'! This was a first for him, taking a visitor straight to hospital, but he was good-humoured and deeply apologetic. Only I would end up in hospital on arrival!

I was in the 24-hour Acute and Critical Care unit for a good few hours, while the wonderful staff poked, prodded, examined and dressed my wound. This plush hospital was first class, and rushed me through as quick as they could. I was prescribed a high dose course of antibiotics, and I was told in no uncertain terms, that I couldn't drink with them at all — that's no more alcohol for me on this holiday then.

After I was officially declared fit to go, I was directed to the desk to pay the bill. Now I am well aware of how expensive this place is, so I was expecting a few thousand dollars, but to my surprise I was told it was just S$300. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. With my health being top of my list of priorities these days, I would have paid anything to make sure I was well enough to resume my travels, so this was a small price to pay. After being given a fit to fly certificate, I was sent on my way, by some of the friendliest medical staff I have ever come across — and the welcoming nature of Singaporeans didn't end there!

As I tried to find a taxi for my journey to the Furama Riverfront Hotel, I was approached by the young concierge, who went out of his way to do all he could for me. He explained about the app I should install on my phone, and how it would make getting around Singapore much easier. After arranging a car for me, he then waited with me for fifteen minutes, checking I was OK and chatting about his life in Singapore.

Like other Singaporeans I have met, he was looking at a future away from his country of birth. The cost of living, house prices and lack of opportunities were big factors in why he wanted to leave. He did feel sad because he loved his home, but he just didn't see a future for himself. He also asked about my life living in Australia, a place he also hoped to travel to one day.

When the taxi arrived, I promised to pop back and say goodbye before I left, and he thanked me for taking the time to talk to him. Asia is a very friendly part of the World as I can testify, but so far, the locals in this tiny south-east Asian nation have been exceptional. Suitably impressed, I waved goodbye and he did the same. I actually really felt like I had made a connection with someone new. I know he was just doing his job, but I could tell he just wanted to talk and get things off his chest, while I was there to listen. Sometimes, a friendly face is all it takes!
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The Furama hotel isn't the Aira Hotel, it is in a completely different class. This Singapore hotel is a bog-standard family establishment that is vast. Catering for hundreds of guests, it doesn't offer the luxury we had in Bangkok, but with hotel space here at a premium, we were lucky to get rooms that were big enough to cater for our needs. This is a perfect place for a few days and has all the facilities we require, so despite it being a little shabby in places, it will be fine for our brief stay!
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At the hotel I finally met Justin after ten years and that was a rather emotional reunion! Justin has proven me wrong on so many levels over the years, and I am so glad to see him doing so well in his career and new home. Our lives fourteen years ago, when we first met, were very different, with partying and living in the moment, at the forefront of our thoughts. Today all our priorities have changed, but it was good to see that Justin remains the life and soul of the party, as he always was!
We made our way down to Boat Quay in Singapore, where we had a few pints in The Penny Black, a pub I had seen on the internet and a place I had wanted to visit for a long time. This old traditional English style pub, was everything I expected and more. Like all of Singapore, however, it was very expensive, with two beers costing me S30. This wasn't too much of a shock, however, this is probably the most expensive country in the World and certainly a place I couldn't afford to visit too often.

With Justin feeling worse of wear, and the rain pouring down, Justin made his way back to the hotel, while Darrell and I had a typical Singaporean meal at Tian Tian Fishermans Restaurant on the Quay. The food was delicious, but at a cost of S$200 for the two of us, it wasn't cheap. It was well worth the money nevertheless. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the terrace, looking out across the river. With the skyline lit up, it really was a beautiful place to chill, eat, chat and talk about the future.
We both decided to walk back to the hotel after the rain cleared. I don't think I have ever felt safer walking through a city at night. This was a magical experience and probably the first time Darrell and I have truly relaxed this holiday.

I am hoping that now, we can finally enjoy our last few days in Asia together, with Justin, and we can pick up our friendship where we last left off ten years ago. It is good to see a friendly face, when you live on the other side of the World, and Justin has visited us more than most. Singapore offers the chance to reconnect in a setting that we could have only dreamed of a decade ago. I hope that we can form the lasting memories that make us the people we are, before we, once again, go our separate ways — until we meet again in another part of the World!
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34-Year-Old Friendship Rekindled — The spectre of growing old!

5/10/2024

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Age came rushing head long into my life this week, and, thankfully, not for the wrong reasons. A friend from the UK who I haven't seen in 34 years was in Perth, and I knew I had to see him.

Back in the dim and distant past, Wayne and I had a very close friendship, established during our time working together in the Civil Service. Despite losing touch for many years, I was determined to reconnect, and rekindle what is an important relationship. After not seeing each other for so long, I was worried by what could happen. Would he still be the same person? Would we still have a connection? And can you really rebuild a friendship after a decade and a half apart!

Wayne and I met in 1990, at a time of great change for me. I was evolving from being a shy teenager, into a deeply sentimental young man, with the weight of the World on my shoulders. Wayne was someone who taught me much about life, and for a period of time we were inseparable. Of course, a lot has happened between then and now, but when someone leaves significant footprints on your heart, you know you have to make the effort!

Back in the early 1990s, I had a small group of friends from college. After the odd afternoon out at The Jolly Sailor, our local hostelry of choice, they would drop me off at Wayne's house in Gosport, where I would try to sober up, before heading home. Wayne looked after me in some terrible states. He made sure I was fed and watered, and we formed a close bond. Our friendship was brief on the scale of things, but it was also very important. Sadly, we lost contact, as Wayne moved away, and my life took me to University in Southampton.

Of course, a lot happened in the intervening years; I met Darrell and settled down, and With the birth of social media, I tried my luck, to see if I could find Wayne, initially on 'Friends Reunited.' I successfully found him, after a long time searching, and we finally got in touch once again.

Now comes the weird bit — during the time when Wayne and I weren't in touch, like me, he had relationships, different jobs, and oddly, he was living in Spain, at exactly the same time I was. Even more mind-blowing, is he was in a relationship with one of Darrell's best friends from school. Of all the people in the World, this was an unexpected connection, that fate appeared to be responsible for. You have to remember, during this period, Wayne and I were not in touch, and we only found out this mutual link relatively recently… Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, just to keep you on your toes.

This was a bizarre twist of fate, that on the surface at least, appeared to be just too much of a coincidence. However, it was, and here we were, 34 years later, chatting about it, sat outside The Belgian Beer Café, in Murray street, ten thousand kilometres from home, where I first met him, just after leaving school…

​This brings me nicely on to my vlog this week. After seeing Wayne, I realised just how old I was. Wayne was still the same person I knew all those years ago, I could tell instantly from his smile; our conversation was just like picking up from where we last left off, but we were both older, much, much older, and different in so many ways. Age, for me, is quite a traumatic thing — it is a sore subject, that I do my best to avoid. I never want to admit my age to myself, but, seeing someone from your past, allows you to reevaluate just what growing old means.

Those 34 years have gone so fast, yet It really does feel just like yesterday and in many respects, it scares me that I am now in my mid-fifties. In another 34 years, in all likelihood, I'll be dead… We really are on this planet, for such a brief period of time, just the blink of an eye!

Despite my own feelings on age, It was nice to see someone from my past. I guess that is the point you realise just how far you have come in life. The 1990s were great years for me personally, and I look back with fondness at a time that allowed me to finally come out and be the person I was always destined to be. I am not in contact with many friends from that period, so it was even more important to cement a bond that would otherwise have been lost — Social media really does have a lot to answer for. It can be responsible for conflict, abuse, bullying and resentment, but it can also bring people together in a rewarding and tangible way. It's good to have Wayne back in my life, even if it has made me question for fast approaching, inevitable and challenging old age. Furthermore, it is the reopening of a story that I had believed was over, and the beginning of another chapter, and a second chance at a friendship that I had thought had gone away!
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Bye Bye Chris and Maria!

12/4/2018

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Yesterday we said farewell to Chris and Maria, after spending the day with them in Gran Alacant and Santa Pola. Lunch at Zest, a trip along the old coast road and drinks with Tony and Joan from the Leprachaun. In the evening we popped to Rogers for a few pints and had a lovely meal in the GA Centre!

It was fantastic seeing family in Spain before we leave this beautiful country; it's just a pity we wont see friends and relatives here again. Having said that, our door is always open in Australia, despite the distance.

We will be seeing these two and other members of the family at the end of May, until then we wait with anticipation.....
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Cousin Chris and Maria!

9/4/2018

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Cousin Chris and his wife Maria arrived in Gran Alacant from the UK yesterday. They are staying in Sierra Mar, on a fleeting visit, before we both depart for Australia. I haven't seen my Cousin for about 30 years; a long time by anyone's standards, Despite the years that have passed, it was good to sit down and chat after so long.

What does one talk about after so many years apart, well family of course, what else! I haven't heard much about my kinfolk at all in recent times, so it was good to catch up on how everyone is. Happily they are well, though Christopher's Mother, my Great Aunty Ronnie, sadly passed away this Friday; sad news from back home.

I met Chris and Maria at Zest, a hundred yards from their apartment; we spent the afternoon talking about old times growing up as kids and the success and failures of what at one stage, was the biggest family in Hampshire. It was good to hear, that all my Cousins, Aunts and Uncles are enjoying the success of their labours; even though the same can't be said of me. I have never really been a master of anything, battling and struggling most of my life. Having said that I am still with the person I love, after 23 years; that is all the success I need!

Chris and Maria are here for another three days and I will try and spend as much time with them that I can. I am working tonight at LoungeD, but along with Darrell hope to spend the day with them both tomorrow. We do have a lot to catch up on and very little time to do it. The reality is, I am unlikely to see family again for many years, if ever. This is my last chance to interact with all those who are important and make up for lost time!
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Alicante!

25/1/2018

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Christopher is returning home on Saturday morning, so Darrell and I decided to take him out for the day yesterday. Once again the weather was fantastic, so we hopped in the car and drove to Alicante; a city Chris hasn't seen before.

We had a walk around the rather compact city centre, showing Chris the sites; the marina, castle and beach. We sat outside a local cafe bar and had a few pints, overlooking the sea. It was hot and the beer was ice cold, but expensive. I certainly wont be going back there again. In Gran Alacant, I pay 2€ for a large beer; at this beach side destination, 4.50€; astronomical by Spanish standards, even with the free scraps of Crisps in a bowl. These were British prices, something I am not used to paying, so being presented with a bill for 27€ was rather shocking.

Next it was a stopover at McDonald's on the promenade, for a quick lunch, before moving back to Gran Alacant, for drinks at Roger's. Suitably watered, we headed towards home and the GA Centre, where we had a few drinks at Barloko, followed by an Indian; sat chatting with Paul and Natalie. It was a lovely relaxed evening. The fog was thick on the way home, as the temperature dipped to a rather chilly 8 degrees. Finally through the door I collapsed on the sofa, headphones on, listening to a bit of cheesy pop before bed!

So Chris is returning to the UK, after his three week stay. I know he has relished his time in Gran Alacant and enjoyed meeting everyone here. He hopes to return again in a few months, at which time it should be far busier. It is rather quiet at the moment, so we look forward to welcoming him again in the spring! Both Darrell and I have enjoyed having Chris stay with us, despite the expense. Have a safe trip, see you soon!
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Health, Health, Health Darling!

23/1/2018

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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.
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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!
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Goulash!

17/1/2018

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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!
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Roast!

12/1/2018

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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!
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    51-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my adopted home of Perth, Western Australia.

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