2016 Review!

It's Christmas Eve; I'm in a reflective mood today, so thought I would spend some time ruminating over the last year.  We have been here now for approximately eleven months. The time has gone particularly fast, with many ups and downs, as one would expect. When we arrived in Spain, in January 2016, we had no idea what to expect; on that day, a Sunday, sitting in a hotel in Alicante. It felt like a holiday, yes, but it felt more than that. For me at least, there was no going back to Britain, at least not for the foreseeable future. We were living in a foreign country, not because we chose to, but because others forced that decision upon us.  When most people decide to up sticks and leave, emigrating to a new land, it is done with positivity and an ability to look forward to a brighter future; for us, that was not the case!

I was aware, all too aware of the problems we faced. To be honest, I had probably spent a lot more time, researching our move to Spain, than Darrell, so in reality, my views were more negative than my partners. I was also aware that Spain, had terrible problems economically, and the decision forced upon myself and Darrell, were not going to disappear over night, if ever. We made the decision to move about seven months prior to our departure and although we did some research about life in Spain, we obviously didn’t have time to mull over our choices. For us, the move to Gran Alacant, would be speculative; unsure about just where life would take us.

Like most people, our first few months, really did feel like a vacation; we spent most of our time getting to know the place, we now called home. We met many wonderful people, as we continue to do. Gran Alacant is a small place, you meet many individuals very quickly, form friendships and bonds with others in your position. Yes, there are many people out here, that we have met, who have had similar life experiences to us; that really is the nature of this place. There are many different people, from all walks of life; retired, the young looking for adventure and others like us, on a journey to a new, better, more rewarding life. The people we met during our first few months have been invaluable and have allowed us to settle in well and today, as I write this, I feel comfortable and a part of this community.

I was able to gain employment relatively quickly and started working for the Easy Horse Care Charity, managing their shop in Masa Square. Here, I was able to meet some wonderful characters, who taught me much about the area I was now living in. From the charity, I was able to move onto another position, working for a local family restaurant for about five months. For the most part I enjoyed my time here, getting to know the locals, working hard and forging a living. Of course circumstances change and it was once again time for me to move on.

Darrell left for Australia, to care for his Mother, who has cancer in August. This was the most difficult part of our journey so far. Darrell and I have been together for over twenty one years, and have spent no longer than a week apart. With him returning in March, we would have spent seven months away from one another, a long time by anyone’s standards. Although this period has been hard, in my opinion it has been good for both of us and for me, character building. Fending for oneself with very little money has been extremely onerous. You live day to day and hope your situation changes. I haven’t lived on such a low income for many, many years, if at all. This has been the challenge, that I had really been looking for. Going back to basics, scraping around for a Euro or two and enduring Spanish hardship, has been fantastic for the soul. Whilst I would not advocate my life choice to anyone, I can safely say, I don’t regret a thing. From that first day, sat in that hotel in Alicante, wishing I was back home, wondering what the hell I had done, I had finally seen my destiny, and it wasn’t in the UK. Privation and austerity, something those in Britain do not understand, on benefits or otherwise, had finally taught me to live my life again, without the trappings of the past, all the things I had around me and the excess that I had once enjoyed. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?

I have also been given an opportunity to write for a magazine, my passion. The feedback I enjoy is beyond what I would have expected and has allowed me to rethink my direction in life, in all respects. Writing is never going to pay the bills, but I had lost the inclination or need to put pen to paper, many years ago; Spain has once again brought that side out of me and I couldn’t be happier. Being known for what you enjoying doing most is an ambition, that I can safely say I have achieved. I will continue to write, because that is what makes me happy, deep down. Using my ability to help the residents and community I live in, channelling my thoughts and views, as a tool to get things done or expressing an opinion, that many others have, but have no voice to speak, is a noble achievement, I can work towards. An ambition I have yet to secure, but certainly work in progress!

Teaching at the Colegio Público Princesa de Asturias, in Elche, is also another ambition fulfilled for me. I have always wanted to teach in one capacity or another and with the help of friends, I have been able to secure a place in a school, teaching Spanish children English. I finished the first term on Wednesday, school reports done and looking forward to the new term on January 11th 2017.

Little over a week ago, I was given the opportunity to open a bar. This came a little out of the blue for me and has been a lifeline, to secure our life in Spain. Darrell is returning on February 29th 2017. A popular local venue in Masa Square has been acquired, allowing us to do what we did in early to mid 2000, run our own business and finally  see a future ahead of us. This is going to be hard; running a business is difficult, especially so in Spain; I have no doubts, what I am letting myself in for. We hope to open the new bar in March 2017, after undertaking substantial renovation. Hopefully we can look forward to a successful summer season and many years of continued prosperity.

What a year it has been. Looking back at old photographs from a year ago, the strain and stress in my face, packing up ones life; moving abroad towards an uncertain future and today, a silver lining on the horizon and the chance of a better future than the past we left behind; who would have thought that, after what we had suffered.  We proved the doubters wrong, rejected negativity and have shown all those, who played their part in disrupting our life, that we really are far better off without you!

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