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

First day in new job!

18/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Jamie is also working there.  I spoke to the owner on Sunday, while we were out for lunch and said if she needed any help to let me know and sure enough she phoned me on Tuesday offering me a position at the restaurant!

​I had my first day on Wednesday, preparing food for the next day.  It has one of the largest kitchens in the area and I am sure I will be happy there! 
Picture

16 March 2016

Picture
Sadly I have had to give up working for the charity shop.  This is a disappointment for me, as I have had such a lovely time with some wonderful people, who have taught me much since coming here.

​In reality, I need to work more and have been offered an opportunity in a local restaurant as a chef. 
Picture
Picture
The last time I was cooking on a professional level, was when I worked at Brickworth, in Whiteparish.  We used to have our own café, shop and garage and lived on the premises 24/7.  It was hard work.  Cooking in a kitchen is hard work, especially cooking to order!
The temperatures here in Spain will also add to that hard work.  I will be cooking in some of the hottest temperatures in the World, so I am under no illusions as to the nature of the work.  Obviously, until summer is fully underway, I have no idea what to expect.  It will make things easier to break in, starting at this time of year, just in time for the Easter rush.  The extremes in temperature, will not be as noticeable!

​My first day in the new job went well, working with another chef in the kitchen.  It was opening night, St Patricks Day, so not as busy as it could have been, though better than expected. The owner seemed pleased, that was all that mattered to me. 

There we have it, all working, not a lot at the moment, as the season has not yet started.  Easter is expected to be extremely busy here, with all the trouble else where in the World so watch this space as it were.  I´m expecting to work 60 hours a week in  summer.  I am not adverse to working long hours and am more than happy to do it.  I am a battler and grafter when I have to be, as is Darrell, and indeed Jamie.  Positivity is the key, looking forwards not backwards and just keep moving on.

​Eventually we aim to end up back in Australia, however long it takes.  We will probably stay here in Spain for at least five and maybe more years.  The longer the better for me.  I have truly fallen in love with this place.

​Let me give you an example of why, I love it here so much.  I have just got back from the bank.  I broke the chip on my other card and had one reordered.  I walked in and handed over my passport as ID, to collect my new card.  The cashier, didn´t take, saying, ´No no, Luke, I know who you are!´
​This just does not happen in The UK, it really doesn´t.  She remembered my name, and like everyone else here, has welcomed us all into the community.  Spanish people are much more friendly.  They take time to pass the time of day and whether in shops or banks offer a service, that is second to none.

​
Picture

Dicks & Zest

Picture
Jamie and I popped into Dicks on the way home.  It was a very hot afternoon, ideal for a pint in the sun!  We also went into Zest, to have a few drinks and finally home, where a drunken Jamie jumped in the pool.  The be fair the bloody water was freezing, but it didn´t seem to phase him!
Picture
Picture
Picture

Teaching Jamie

Picture
With Jamie working behind the bar in his new job, he had to learn to iron this week.  Normally we are teaching him to cook, but it was important for Jamie to get to grips with the other, more mundane aspects of life and independence!
Picture
He actually did quite well.  He´s still learning, but he´s nearly there!

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-202223
    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
    Postcards From Home
    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

    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

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