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

Picture

Expats

19/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

Rachel


Picture
Lunch in The Square


My friend Rachel, who I used to go to School with, nearly thirty years ago, was in Spain with her daughter, at their Spanish home.  It is half term in England, so the perfect time to get away.

Rachel doesn´t live too far from us, about an hours drive, so she drove down with Jess to see us at Casa Caprice.  Rachel helped us find our new home, so it was fitting that she saw it first.

Like most people Rachel got lost trying to find our house.  The numbering here, is actually illogical and can be difficult to work out!
Picture
Rachel and Jess

Picture
Fish and Chips

Picture
Luke and Jamie
After a few phone calls Rachel made it and we popped to the centre to pick up Darrell.  He had just got his NIE number, something we didn´t think was going to happen for a while, but The Police were happy that Darrell had entered Spain legally, after customs had forgot to stamp  his passport, when  entering northern Spain by road.
That was the first stage in a process of obtaining work and permanent residency in Spain.  All of us now have our numbers and are finally allowed to work legally!

We took Rachel to the local square, where we had lunch at the new bar, that had opened up on Friday.  The Fish and Chips there are to die for and was absolutely delicious.  It was nice to chat with Rachel, in more relaxed circumstances, after such an awful year.  Spain is certainly more relaxed, the people are far more obliging and the way of life here is something we are loving, although it is taking some getting used too, as it will after living in The UK for a life time!

We chatted about school and family for a bit and had a talk about the future and work.  The guys who own the bar gave me some information on local businesses and we have many options open to us.  Rachel and Darrell believe we should both keep in simple, at least for now and spend the short term learning the language, laws and customs.  I am tending to agree with them at the moment and am really just enjoying getting to know our new home, Country and the people who live here.

Rachel left with Jess early afternoon  and it was down to us to celebrate becoming legal!

The Square


Picture
Shots of SOTO

Expats


Thursday nights are the best nights down on The Square.  The people we have met so far are an amazing bunch.  Many residents are from the English, Irish and Scottish Community and all are welcoming and open.  Most people have been here for ten or more years and they all have one thing in common, THEY DON´T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO LIVE IN THE UK.

You can see why.  This area is lovely, well kept and looked after. offering fantastic sunshine for most of the year, a safe environment for children to grow up in and a real sense of community, long since lost in Britain!

Everytime you ask the question ¿Would you go home?, you get the same answer, NO!

Britain has changed out of all proportion.  The Country isn´t the same as it was.  The values I was bought up with no longer exist and Spain offers a glimse of what could have been!
Darrell went to the bank to open a new account, so Jamie and myself went back to The Square to continue celebrating in his absence.  Plenty of beer and shots of SOTO, which really is a strong shot of alcoholic Coke.  Not being a big drinker of spirits myself, this is one of the only ones that I actually like!
Picture
Luke and Jamie
Picture
With June in The Square
Picture
With June and Darrell
Picture
At the bar
Picture
If I remember rightly, June has lived here for at least ten years and she has never looked back.  She plays an important role in the local community here.  She is motivational and inspiring.  She also tells you how it is and she is at the centre of English life. 
This is our third week, living in Spain and we have settled in much better than I would have ever expected.  There is a large expat community here, which, at least for the moment, has helped us all avoid home sickness and has helped us gently settle into Spanish expat life.  Of course other people may well be in two minds about the pro´s and con´s of an expat community, but I firmly believe, they are necessary for a smooth transition!
Picture
Picture

UK ´V´ Spain

So ¿How should one, approach a new life in Spain? ¿English or Spanish?  Well the obvious answer to these questions would be to have a balance between the two cultures!
Many people move abroad, especially to Spain, and have no need to learn the language or indeed become part of the larger Spanish community.  In reality, it isn´t necessary, especially when, like us, you have moved to an area, where there is a large expat group of individuals, within walking distance.
Picture
We met some other local people.  An English guy, who married his English Partner.  The gay couple who owned the local bar as well as those who have second homes here.  All of their opinions differ, from one end of the spectrum to the other.  The Englishman, who´s partner is a Spanish nurse, said he did feel at times, that he was living in the old British Soap Opera Eldorado!
Picture
Picture
I have just got back from the local shop, where we have just bought our supply of provisions for the week.  They all speak perfect English and there is absolutely no need to speak Spanish at all.

In that respect the jury is still out on
For those of you who are too young to remember, Eldorado was a British Soap Opera, based in Spain, centred around a British expat community.  Of course like all soap operas it had its fare share of drama, although not enough to sustain the programmes longevity and the show was axed, soon after it began.

Personally, I am not adverse to a community of like minded individuals, with common goals and aims.  It has once again offered me a great sense of belonging, something I have craved for a long time!
Picture
whether or not one should integrate fully into Spanish life or not!  At the moment, I do want that happy balance between Spanish and English.  I want to be able to speak the language and I need to be able to spend my middle years, growing old in Spain, knowing that I have done everything to become part of life here.  I am grateful a strong English community exists, for without them, we would not be feeling as comfortable as we do.  I certainly feel we can all be happy here, for a life time or indeed as long as we want too.  If things do not work out well, then we can always move on to pastures new, but for now I am loving my new life and the new people in it!

Picture
Drunken old lush

Drunk

After another Thursday night out in The Square, I don´t mind telling you, I was totally drunk.  I mean just look at the state I was in when I got back to Casa Caprice.  Jamie was already at home and I think I really just terrorised him for a while, collapsing in bed at some point and today, suffering with the hangover from hell.
So, we all had an amazing night down ´The Square´ as we usually do.  We have met more new friends and were even given nick names, as everyone here has.  I finally have a real sense of belonging and am  truly happy with where my life is heading and so glad to be away from The UK and some of the worst people I have ever met!

Peace and love always!
Picture
Shameful
Picture


0 Comments



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
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia 2022/23
    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
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories-of-home
    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
    Pippa
    Platinum Jubilee
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    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
    Zest

    Archives

    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

lukemartin.jones@gmail.com
  • 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