Firstly, Seasons Greetings to all near and far.
I really don't know what to say in this post, but I feel it's important to mark the occasion with a few words..
Today exactly a year ago we woke up to our first whole day in our new life in our Spanish home.
We have had property here for about 14 years, and my family have had property here since 1966 so Estepona is very familiar to me, I've lived through its transformation from a fishing village to the mini Marbella it is now.
I have yet to be convinced that all the 'improvements' are for the better, but that aside, I'm trying to figure out how I feel about my new life.
I've found it harder than I expected. I miss the lifestyle and the familiarity of my U.K. home
I have made friends here, (nearly) everyone is very nice, but it doesn't feel like home. I feel as if I've been ejected from my nest, and I've still not found my niche.
Obviously, I miss my grown up Sons, but as one is in Japan, and the other doesn't need anything more than the occasional roast dinner from me, so I wouldn't see them much more often if I'd stayed in Blighty.
In order to deal with my feelings of loss of identity I've decided to go back to the U.K. every couple of months for a week or so, just to get my 'fix' in the hope that I can find myself. That sounds pretentious, but I don't feel I'm being my true self here, I feel a fraud.
I DO LIKE LIVING IN SPAIN, and I honestly don't think we could afford to live in Kent these days, but I don't feel at home, and I'm still a bit bored.
I suppose I come over as a spoilt entitled woman, who needs to throw herself into good works and self improvement, and that's probably correct, but inside I still feel as if in on a very long holiday from my real life.
Anyway, that's enough introspection for 2023.
Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful 2024, & PLEASE can the World leaders stop fighting each other over power and money and religion!?