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

Coming Home!

14/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
When writing my blog, I rely heavily on the community in which I live, whether that was in Spain or now in my home City of Portsmouth. I am lucky to have contact with many different people on a daily basis, through work and at home, so I do get most of my ideas from these wonderful characters, that I just happen to cross paths with; real life stories from those who matter are important. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to write or express their views, like me, so I am happy to facilitate their experiences and stories on my blog. Today I wanted to mention an exchange of views with a customer and friend I know from the pub where I work. In the hospitality trade, you do have many conversations with people about some very interesting subjects; politics, sport and local difficulties being just three. Yesterday I ended my shift speaking with a regular about his life in Portsmouth, what makes him tick and why he loves this city so much.

The demographic of the  neighbourhood where I live in Fratton, is a mix of local people who have lived here all their lives, students attending Portsmouth University, service men and women who have relocated here for work and a large diverse ethic population. Fratton isn’t a perfect middle class idyll on the south coast of England, it is a down to Earth, at times gritty, working class and typically unrelenting, urban town, with all the problems that come with that label. Unemployment, poverty and a determination to keep battling on, forging its own unique identity in the structure of Portsmouth, is important to everyone who lives here!

I was interested in why people have stayed in this neighbourhood, many all their lives, JC gave me many answers to why he lives here now and intends to remain so. This intelligent man is an indelible part of Fratton, he isn’t extraordinary, he isn’t rich, he isn’t well travelled, but he is happy, content and thankful for being a part of the community in which he lives. JC is well known, liked and full of stories to tell; he has indeed become a great source of inspiration for me. I was told in no uncertain terms, that this is his home and God help anyone who tries to take that away from him. JC has seen a lot of changes, most not for the better, he even spent time travelling and living in a van, looking for new horizons, adventures and experiences to share, but significantly, he came home and remained in a place he loves. Surprisingly he isn’t jealous of others international escapades, wads of cash in their pockets or high brow lifestyles, he is just satisfied living and working in Fratton; he couldn’t care less about others opinions or attitudes to life, he is more than comfortable being who he is!

My life was very different. I have an Australian partner and have lived both in Australia and the UK. I have travelled extensively, all over the globe and have also resided in Europe. As soon as I was able, I left Britain, to make my own mark on the World. I made many mistakes and chose many wrong paths, but essentially I left my roots behind and looked outwards towards the cities in the sky, ending up today back home in the place of my birth. I rejected my childhood and wanted something better, always looking for happiness, but never really finding it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my partner, but I have never found a place to settle, make a home and live the rest of my days. I have returned now and am enjoying spending time with family; I actually haven’t felt this good in a long time, but I am realistic about just what happens next.

Unlike JC, I am not completely comfortable with living in a small neighbourhood, where everyone else knows you, has an opinion about your life or passes judgement on your indiscretions. I do get bored easily and am constantly looking for something better, something new, something I am missing out on; I need to keep moving, hopefully onto bigger and brighter things.

A lot of the time I am deluded about the future, The grass isn’t necessarily greener, as I found out, moving to Spain and I have missed out on a valuable part of life, family, friendships and integrating with those I live and work with. I haven’t formed many lasting bonds in recent years because I haven’t stayed in one place long enough and in retrospect, miss that side of life.

‘Coming home’ has given me a beneficial and constructive insight into what could have been or what could be in the future. I am getting used to this new role, embracing a different way of thinking and grasping opportunities when they arrive. I am not for one minute claiming to be a born again local boy, happy to stay in Pompey forever but I am doing my best to ‘fit in’ and taking each day as it comes. There is nothing to say I will be here in a few months time, but for now this really is home and who knows in time, especially as I get older, approaching my fifties, I may well decide to stay and live as JC lives, content to leave my past behind!

Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    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