Archive for the 'Spanish Journal' Category
Did they or didn´t they?
Yes, they did. Well … several of them “made love” in front of the camera, even though they were under a duvet or in the bathroom where cameras are not available to film, but all made sure that the audience knew full well what they had been up to.
So the question for today is … “would you go into Big Brother and have sexual intercourse with a relative stranger in front of the camera” and more importantly “would you forget about safe sex”. One male had a couple … or more … whilst in the house. Have to say he was the most interesting housemate in the Spanish Big Brother House this year and one of the best looking guys, not much competition though. He certainly was not shy! Even had the presenter blushing.
A raving agnostic in spain.
Here in Spain there are many Fiestas, particularly at Easter, where effigies are carried around the villages and towns by the locals.
At these Fiestas people, mainly women, cry and reach out to touch the religious statue. They lift up their babies, seemingly oblivious of the dangers. When they achieve their objective, they walk away with what can only be described as a “divine smile” on their faces. I simply do not understand what people, particularly women, hope to achieve by touching an inanimate object. Worse still, to put ones child at risk of falling from a significant height in a crowd of what can only be described as “rampant”, where injury or even death could occur if trampled.
Perhaps Spain is the wrong place for someone who does not believe there is a God.
I acknowledge their right to choose their beliefs, I just do not understand. For me, religion does not have a place in modern society. It seems to me that society is no further on than the religious fanatics typical of the middle ages.
I am sure that man cannot possibly know that there is a God or some Supreme Deity watching over the lives of the humans on this planet, a planet he made with inhabitants made in his own image. And woman being made out of the spare rib of Adam is just another “rant” waiting to happen. That really puts us in our place ladies.
TV in Spain
I don´t understand how the Spanish TV companies come to the conclusion that it is okay to screen a vampire series at 3 pm, then put one of the Harry Potter movies on very late at night. Obviously they do not have the Spanish equivalent of the “watershed”.
If young children watch Spanish TV and you like to make sure the programmes are appropriate for their age group, ie watch Harry Potter rather than a violent FBI TV series or a movie with rape scenes and dead bodies, then be careful.
The new digital network allows programmes from abroad to be screened in the original language, mostly it works, as this is Spain, sometimes it doesn´t.
I had insomnia and switched on the TV early one morning, as usual surfing between channels and came across a movie that looked interesting, didn´t understand the story line but decided to watch it anyone. Scene – a young couple having an argument, quite normal, then they move into his office, she strips all his clothes off and the next scene, as decribed to my daughter, was very realistic oral sex. Didn´t realise until she questionned which channel I had been on that it was a porn movie.
Plans of Mice & Men
Sometime within the next year I will be returning to the UK, so I will be researching all the things I need to do, other than save loads of money. It isn´t just a case of packing a case, catching a flight and going home. As this is Spain, there is a lot more red tape.
Joe, the JRT, that in his case stands for “Jack Russell Terrorist”, is a very important member of our family and if he doesn´t go home, no one does.
Many Brits just abandon dogs and cats. One family returning to the UK left the family pets in their former home only to be found by the new owners after they had finalised the purchase. Luckily there were alive and eventually rehomed.
A case recently reported told of a couple who arrived at a pet´s clinic in a Jaguar with two dogs for grooming services. The owner of the clinic groomed the dogs, pampered them etc, and then attempted to contact the owners. There was no response to calls and they have not been seen or heard of since. The pets are now up for rehoming.
My site will still cover problems encountered in Spain by expats, but will focus on researching the rules regarding pets returning to the UK from other countries. Next will be the action us humans need to take before leaving Spain, ie tax, housing, banks accounts and son on. Finally transporting all of us and our possessions back to the UK, finding accommodation there, plus informing pensions, tax office and other organisations of our return.
A couple of winges
I feel that the exchange rate for the UK is being manipulated by “person or organisations or maybe even governments unknown”, perhaps ready to take the UK into the Euro Zone. Make the UK more competitive. Since we came to Spain my income has dropped by a large percentage, ie when we arrived the rate was one euro 47 cents per pound, and this remained fairly constant. Now … the exchange rate is fluctuating “wildly”, at Christmas we received 99 cents per pound, now it is around one euro seven cents. I am not really complaining, one takes the rough with the smooth. What really annoys me is the people who trade in currencies and make money out of us “poor unfortunates”. Does anyone else think this is just … wrong, criminal even!
I ready an article in the local English press from a “young woman“ who thought that people like myself who go to live abroad should not receive our pension or any other payments, ie we should not take money from a system that we were not paying into! Wrong … I still pay a large amount of tax into the UK system on my UK income and they do not pay for my health care while I am in Spain … my choice. I worked for 42 years, paying both tax and national insurance, sometimes with more than one job, I find it annoying that a woman who hasn’t worked anyway near the number of years I have and who has contributed less to society to date should open her “big mouth” and spout about something she knows absolutely nothing about. Not all ex pats live off the state! I worked for my state pension, I paid into a private pension scheme, and the money I am “given” is pay back for my years contributing to the economy. Many of the expats I know actually pay into the Spanish system. So … get a life and find something other than expats to winge about. Oh yes, one other thing this woman complained about … cold weather payments … I do not receive “cold weather payments” and know of no one here who does, though I am sure they are around somewhere.
Christmas 2009
Last year we went home to the UK to join the extended family for Christmas. This year we are staying in Spain and have decided on a rather different dinner from roast turkey and trimmings. We rarely eat red meat and have decided that this is what we want … so it has to be lamb with mint sauce, I fancy trying mint and apple jelly but will “test drive” it before the big day. Home made tomato soup with parmesan crisps to start and boozy orange cheesecake for dessert plus, if we have any space left, cheese and crackers and to end black coffee and mint thins! My idea of heaven.
On New Year’s Eve, we are thinking of going traditionally Scottish and having Haggis, tatties and neeps followed by Cranachan, this is the only recipe I have for this dessert and I am unsure whether we will be able to find raspberries as fruit is available only during the season in Spain, if not I fancy Stone Cream with a little fruit compote, I found this recipe written in an old book, luckily I wrote it down in my folder … my mother threw the original book away which contained a host of old recipes, now sadly lost.
Cranachan … 2 oz medium oatmeal,12 fl oz double cream, 2 tbsp Scottish honey, 2 tbsp Drambuie, 10 oz fresh raspberries
Put the oatmeal into a dry frying pan and toast over a medium heat, keeping the oatmeal moving, until golden brown. This will take between 10 to 20 minutes, leave the oatmeal to cool. Whisk the cream until it is just starting to form fairly stiff peaks, then stir in the honey, Drambuie and oatmeal. Gently fold in the raspberries leaving some for decoration. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Place into tall stemmed glasses and decorate with a few raspberries. I know we won’t be able to get the white raspberries of Scotland, but I understand it is very good made with these berries. I had thought of changing the recipe to include a really nice Whisky liqueur, the same that is in the boozy orange cheesecake, we shall have to see.
Stone Cream … 2 sheets gelatine (or 10 gm powdered gelatine), 2 fl oz hot water, Whites of 2 fresh free-range eggs, 1 rounded tbsp white castor sugar, 10 fl oz double cream, 3 drops of vanilla extract, 8 fl oz whole milk, a little Sherry or Orange Liqueur … to taste
Serving suggestion: raspberry or bilberry compote
Melt the gelatine in 2 fl oz of hot water. Whisk the egg whites until they begin to thicken and then add the sugar gradually while continuing to whisk. Whisk the cream and vanilla extract in a large bowl until softly peaking, gently add the milk and sherry or orange liqueur and finally stir in the egg whites. Add the gelatine slowly whilst gently whisking. Cover and place in the refrigerator.
When ready to serve, place a layer of fruit compote in the bottom of a pretty glass, spoon the cream mixture on top, sprinkle with grated dark chocolate and flaked almonds
Little Britain
No, not the programme, a place here in Spain often referred to as Little Britain! Or Brit Hell, depends on the life you want in Spain, ie to live in Britain in the Sun or take on the Spanish lifestyle. I want a bit of both. Either way we are moving on yet again, but this time we have spent time in the area we intend moving to and enjoyed it.
The weather has been unberable living in a house without air con or ceiling fans. 43 degrees in the shade, not sure what it was in the sun, just uncomfortable.
I have finally settled down in Spain and no longer have the need to return home (permanently) to the UK, but of course UK is still referred to as “home”. Not sure what that means. Anyone else know?
This is the first time I have been online for a few weeks, mainly because I needed a rest and had reached the stage where I could think of nothing interesting to chat about. Still can´t, so I am cutting this post short, at least for me. TTFN.
Ex Pats
I am sorry if I am repeating myself, but the subject of ex pats is being discussed on the web, either retirees who have sold up and come to Spain for a better life only to discover than when they decide to return to the UK, they cannot sell or even rent out their homes. In other words, they are stuck.
Again, these articles discuss the “50 somethings” who also sold up, bought a bargain in Spain, then lived off their income hoping to find a job. In this area none are available unless you are employed by another Brit or fluent in Spanish. Those that are available being low paid.
In the last area we lived, investors were buying off plan, then discovering the rental income was very low, ie 420 euros for a 2 bed 2 bath apartment with living room, kitchen and outside space, plus the use of a communal pool. In this case substantially less than their mortgage payments. A number of the people we knew handed their keys back and walked away, losing money in the process.
When we arrived in Spain we rented and are still doing so. Until I am absolutely sure which area I will settle in, or even if I settle in Spain at all, I will continue to rent. I would strongly advise others to do the same. Ignore these people on TV who say “sell up and move out, that way you will have to integrate and settle in your new home”. I advise you to make sure that the area (and country) are where you want to spend the rest of your life before you fully commit. True the first year is hard, but you get past it if you try. If it isn´t what you want, go home knowing you still have a home to go to. For me, a safety net is so very important. Moving to a new country is a major decision and should be treated as such.
Pipas
There is a knack to eating Pipas, that traditional Spanish snack.
You pop it in your mouth, crack open the shell, scoop out the pip with your tongue, spit out the shell (health implications will be covered later), then chomp said pip, all in one fluid movement!
Why discuss this not too interesting subject? Simple, I just cannot get the hang of it which makes me stand out in a crowd. Also spitting the shell out onto the road, bus, tram, bar or while watching the Fiesta makes me feel as if I am commiting major some offence, a litter lout so to speak.
Brits in Spain
I have been reading articles posted on the web about retirees and those in their 50s selling up in the UK and buying property in the hope of a better life in the sun. Many are now finding that they are less well off due to the falling exchange rate between sterling and the Euro.
With regard to property, one lady we know purchased a town house 10 years ago and now finds that she is unable to sell it for the price she paid and cannot find tenants to rent the property. When we lived in Huescar there were two identical town houses up for rental in the same urbanization with similar decor and furniture. The Spanish owned property asked for a montly rent of 300 euros, the Brit wanted 495 euros. Guess who rented out the house and who didn´t? Many Brits expect the same rental income they would get in the UK and that would appear, on the surface, to be their problem. The majority of the prospective tenants in inland Spain are Spanish and they will not pay high rents charged by the Brits. In addition, the Spanish are willing to rent a property out for however long you want it (in most cases – there are exceptions), the Brits put a maximum of 11 months as apparently after that you qualify for “squatters rights”. Or so we were told by a British estate agent.
As far as work is concerned for the 50 somethings, in a lot of areas there isn´t any. The only work available is offered at minimum wage and is usually in the service sector. Unless you have excellent Spanish, you will not be offered, for instance a job similar to that you did in the UK, ie IT or management, no matter how well qualified you are. And there are only so many “home finders” or “estate agents” that the market will support, especially in the current financial climate. Many have already gone down or are struggling.
As a pensioner, I find my income has dropped quite a lot and I am sure other Brits whose sole income comes from the UK are experiencing the same problem. I think when I last compared the exchange rate when we arrived compared with the current rate, my income has fallen by about 16%.
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