Positive Vibes!

Home!

Jamie was a complete mess, a disaster zone, when we arrived here in Spain, after only having a couple of weeks to prepare to leave The UK for good. Well Mr Hough has changed a lot during that time. I have never seen someone change so much!

Jamie has put on a stone in one month. He has been eating better, sleeping far more and actually turning a better shade of colour in the warm Spanish sun, as are we all. It is really true to say that the sun does bring out the best in people, in all respects.

Depression

I just wanted to say a few words about depression. Oddly, I haven´t mentioned it much in this particular blog and there is a reason why. I actually have not suffered from depression since I have been here, at all. In fact Bipolar has been far from my mind. I have been enjoying life here so much, the weather, people and of course the lifestyle that I have never felt better.

It has been a pleasure to get to know The ´Gran´ Ladies here in Alicante, they really have been a fabulous bunch, People here are very different to those back home and do go out of their way to help whenever they can. A bit like England of olden times if you like!

Teaching Jamie

One month on, after we arrived in Spain and Jamie is doing fantastically well. He looks 100% better! It has all been worth it, just to see him, look the way he does now. It has taken him a lot of hard work!

Jamie has given himself two months to get back on track. He wants to be fit and healthy and then start to look for work and find himself. To be honest due to the seasonal nature of employment here, it really does not matter if he works or not at the moment.

June

I wanted to say thank you to June, without who´s help we would have found it much more difficult here in Spain. She has been a great source of support and information, always offering to do her best.

New Job

This has been the first week in my new job and I am enjoying it tremendously. I am working with some of the best people you could ever imagine. A group of volunteers, who are working towards the same goal and are giving their time and experience to help create a better environment for horses in Spain, who need care and help!

They are a great bunch of people, many of whom have worked for the Horse Charity for years, some since it was formed by my boss Sue. Sue is one of the hardest working, most selfless people I know. She works seven days a week and does everything, for the horses and donkeys she so loves!

There is a small army of volunteers, whose dedication is far and above what I have seen before. I have of course worked for several charities in The UK and all of the volunteers are fabulous, but the people who work for Easy Horse Care are really, over and above anything I have come across.

These are mainly a group of expats, who have either come here for a better quality of life or retired here in their later years. They are working for a charity they hold dear and they feel strongly about the cause they are championing, so much so, many of them also work at the Rescue Centre as well!

Fish and Chips

It´s fish and chips night down The Square on a Thursday!

June was down The Square and we had a long chat about life here on The Costa´s, the future, work and life in general. June is always a great source of inspiration and has this knack of making things feel better, creating those positive vibes!

It is a real privilege to Manage two of Sue´s shops, which are all kept extremely well. Everyone´s hard work and positive outlook has paid dividends and all of the shops are making money. I am currently running between two closely situated shops and relishing the new opportunities ahead here in Spain!

I´ve collared Jamie into doing some shifts at the shops as well. It will give him something to do, before the season starts and I have a feeling, the older workers will Mother him. They will certainly look out for him. They are also teaching me Conversational Spanish and once more, we have been welcomed with open arms!

Went down to Zest with our Jamie in the afternoon for the weekly ´Battered Cod.´ Best in Alicante by far. The sun was out and it was hot, boiling hot. At one stage it was 32 degrees in March. I am still not used to these temperatures, especially at this time of year!

Everyone we have spoken to, said it was the best idea, coming to Spain in January, so we get to adapt to the Spanish climate!

Working

Just back from work and it really has been a hot one this week. Thoroughly enjoying my new role and have lots of plans. The pace here is much slower and the energy I now have is huge. I am out every day, walking, keeping fit, loosing weight, learning Spanish and getting a tan. Life finally feels good!