Hard Work - Here And Abroad!

I've had another busy weekend with barely time to think. It was football day at The Newcome Arms, as Portsmouth played at home to Oxford United. I walked into a busy pub, after a long shift at Tesco, working through to 11.30pm; seventeen hours on my feet; I thrive on days like this and enjoy the vibrancy and excitement around me. This Saturday the locals were celebrating yet another win for their city.

As a novice where football is concerned, I have little comprehension about the game, football players or the politics involved. Most of the time I have no idea what customers are talking about. However my ability to listen and extemporise in these situations serves me well. For the most part I have meaningful conversations about a subject I have little understanding of, without making myself look an idiot and of course I can talk the hind legs off a donkey. Adapting to situations and circumstances without a slip up is one of my best abilities; when one couples this with my love of people, you can see I am on to a winner; I am a people person in every sense of the word!

Saturday night was full of high jinks and good spirits in the main and I thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie of the day. This weekend was a little more boisterous than usual, but nothing good bar staff couldn't handle! After fourteen hours of work on Saturday, I collapsed in bed, sleeping like a baby. My usual insomnia just disappeared. I am of course a firm believer in hard work, despite spending too long in Spain not working. Talking to a friend today about my situation living abroad, they were in agreement, it was the best decision I ever made to come home. Employment opportunities are few and far between on the Costa Blanca; your face has to fit or you wont get a job and I wasn't prepared to 'suck up' any longer, if truth be told. As a 47 year old man, with a proven job record and work ethic, I shouldn't have to beg and grovel for work. Thank god working practices are more equitable in the UK; it really is a pleasure to be back in the real World! If you enjoy your job, labouring alongside decent people and are appreciated for your endeavours, you really are not going to mind working hard. In Spain, I became rather disheartened by the amateur way in which some employers carried on their business activities. I can only speak about my own experiences; once again I picked the wrong path in life!

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I do seem rather bitter towards Spain don't I? Well I really don't mean to sound negative. Most people and businesses were decent individuals, who went out of their way to help and give people a chance; especially the many Brits who arrive in Gran Alacant each year. Had I been in the right place at the right time, I may well have settled in Spain much easier. One of the readers to my blog asked me only this morning, what advice would I give someone of my age, thinking about taking the plunge and moving to Europe. All I can say is be careful, very careful indeed. There are a lot of unscrupulous people in this World, people who take advantage of others good, honest nature; get out of holiday mode straight away. Remember no one is your friend and you should always keep your wits about you. Do not be bullied or persuaded to do something you don't feel comfortable with and above all if you aren't a good judge of character, don't move to Spain in the first place.

As you can see I am extremely happy to be grafting again for a living. After a long tiring weekend, it was lovely to come home on Sunday and settle down for a fantastic roast dinner, cooked by my Cousin Rachel, spending some much needed time with family. This was the side of life I missed living abroad. The only real contact you have with people is in a bar or restaurant, there is very little chatter that isn't centred around alcohol and that is a real shame. Many of those I knew were only acquaintances; they patronised the bar In which I worked and that isn't any real grounding for friendship in the main. Luckily I have some good memories from those who did become close, including some customers I used to serve on a daily basis, but I can't help lamenting the missed opportunities, the lost years of loneliness and the hardships endured, only to leave the continent with nothing. I don't regret living in Spain, but I do feel remorse for not grasping the connections I could have had here instead. Since returning to the UK, I have had to reassess every aspect of my life; today I have reached a point where I can say I am happy and content to have made my own choices, the right choices and not the knee jerk reactions to circumstances that were out of my control!

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