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

Picture

Review of 2019 - The end of a decade!

5/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
2019 has been a year like no other, one I am glad to see the back of. I seem to have had more bad years than not in recent times and am getting used to the roller coaster ride that is my life at the moment. The year started off well enough, as my Aunt and I started to organise our trip to Asia in May, to meet Darrell, who was flying in from Australia, to connect with us in Hong Kong. Darrell and I are travellers at heart, so organising a three week trip to my favourite part of the World, is a sure fire way of improving my spirits and encouraging a more positive outlook for the future. With plans well and truly in hand, I could get on with the rest of my life, and enjoy my time here in the UK.

After a cold winter, I was also looking forward to seeing my family on the Channel Island of Jersey, travelling with my Uncle and Cousins, to this little slice of the British Isles in June, but it just wasn’t to be. Devastatingly I fell ill a few days before I was due to fly and ended up spending the duration in bed. To be honest I haven’t really recovered from the infection I contracted and was disappointed not to be going to my Aunts home on the Island. This would be a trip for later in the year, but for now my priority was getting well.

Getting well, going to see my GP and constantly worrying about the state of my health, was very much at the forefront of my life last year. From IBS, to Diverticulitis, high blood pressure, anxiety and old age, I was in and out of the Doctors surgery with assured regularity. As I have gotten older, I have started to worry about my general disposition and sense of well-being. 2019 was most certainly a year of worry; brought about by the circumstances I now find myself in, I am likely to carry on very much in the same vein, at least until mine and Darrell’s life changes for the better. As we move into 2020, I don’t expect things to alter very much in the short term, a factor that will hopefully improve in the future.

I lost three people I was close to this year, in what I can only describe as a dreadful period of loss. In January my dear Aunt Carol died, after a long battle with cancer. Carol was someone I always looked up to and a person who had always stuck by me, when no one else did, no matter what. She was the link to my family that I lost at different times in my life and she was the glue that held my memories together. A gracious, giving and generous lady, who I will always think of and will forever be in my heart.

During the summer Uncle Ray died after a short illness also. He was the centre of life at the Newcome Arms where I work and was a character like no other. Ray welcomed me home to Portsmouth and was always there to help when he could. His loss is all our loss and I will miss him dearly, like everyone else who knew him!

In October, my Mother also died; long suffering, she fought bravely until the end, when she couldn’t fight any more. Despite my reservations at the time, I was glad to be with her at the end. Mum’s pain was visible in her final hours and my heart broke seeing her in so much agony. In the end she died of a heart attack, rather than anything related to her long term illness and I am thankful she went quickly, surrounded by her family. When one looses someone close, one is transported to a very different World. My life will never be the same without her, as I know my Father and Brothers wont be; all of us will always mourn her passing and think of her everyday.

During happier times I was lucky enough to travel to Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea and Cambodia last year, in order to meet Darrell. I travelled along with my Aunt to Asia, where we spent an amazing three weeks navigating some truly memorable countries. This was indeed the holiday of a lifetime and a trip I shall always remember for its uniqueness and awe inspiring wonderment. I have travelled to many parts of the World over the years, but never so many amazing countries with so much to see and experience. By the end of the trip, I was exhausted, through sheer cultural overload. This journey has opened the door to our holiday to Japan and Thailand this year and is an enduring memory I shall take with me wherever I go. Travel is the reason I live and will always be a big part of my life!

Darrell arrived in the UK in November, to spend a month away from life with his Mother in Australia. I was thrilled to see him after six months apart and we spent a fantastic four weeks together. Both of us flew to Jersey, so I could finally see my family and despite the weather, we enjoyed the relative peace and quiet on this beautiful island. This was also the first time I had met my Cousins George and Pheobe, ending an unforgettable time getting to know my family.

My connection to family has become closer this year, spending time with relatives from both my Mother and Fathers side, talking about times I had almost forgotten. I have spent 2019 making a conscious effort to rebuild some badly broken bridges and despite the loss of Mum am glad my family seem closer now than ever before.

As I look back at this past year I am struck by the twelve months of contrasting events. 2019 was a time of very mixed emotions and has pushed me and my family to our limits. We have all once again weathered the storm that was circling and have come out the other side emotionally and physically drained. Only seeing my husband twice a year has also become a struggle, as we both try and make the best of our situation, doing our utmost for one another. I never imagined my life would end up quite like this and although I do have my down days, I am still happy and positive looking forward to another twelve months of ups and downs. As I try and manoeuvre my way along this war torn road, they call life, I am mindful of the mistakes of the past. This may not be the way it was planned, but it sure makes for an eventful time!

Picture

Picture



0 Comments

    Author

    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.

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

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

    Categories

    All
    30th Anniversary
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia-202223
    Bangkok & Chiang Mai 2023
    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
    Croatia 2022
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Death Of Queen Elizabeth
    Dunbars
    Easy Horse Care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating-facts
    Friends Colleagues
    Gran Alacant
    Guest-bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    King Charles III
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories Of Home
    Memories-of-home
    Memories Of Portsmouth
    Memories Of Southampton
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam-sociopathy
    Penelope-wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Picante And Marigold
    Pippa
    Pippa And Akira
    Platinum Jubilee
    Postcards From Home
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Taiwan 2024
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    Thailand And Singapore 2025
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Vietnam 2024
    Villa In The Sun
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year In Review 2015
    Year In Review 2016
    Year In Review 2017
    Year In Review 2018
    Year In Review 2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Year In Review 2022
    Year In Review 2023
    Year In Review 2024
    Zest

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    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
    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
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

[email protected]
  • 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