Los Raspajos
Thursday, February 28, 2013
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The move came and went, we settled in !
The neighbours could not have been more welcoming. Jesus and his elderly father Paco, what characters they turned out to be and the generosity overwhelming ! Paco in his eighties struggling with bad legs yet out working the land everyday, driving a motor bike to town once or twice a week, slightly worrying. He would sit on the wall the other side of the road to get some sun, a small man with a large smile, radiates love and kindness a real joy to know ! Jesus his forty something son, now suffering from a mental handicap, we are told he hasn't always been like this. He left Seron a bright, intelligent young man searching for adventure, he disappeared for 15 years and when he resurfaced was a totally different person ! He tells me he was in Ibiza for that time and the amount of drugs he took over that period left him that way. He still retains his Dads warm smile and kind heart.
Their story is a sad one, Paco, his wife, Jesus, their older two sons and younger daughter where living I can only assume happily, when disaster stuck. Paco's wife became sick and died, he was left with four small children and couldn't cope. The eldest son stayed with him, we have never meet him he has not been back to Serón in about twenty years. The youngest three children where sent to live with different family members, it has taken a toll on them all ! The other son still lives in Serón we have meet him a number of times but never saw him visit his father. The daughter now lives with her daughter in Albox about half an hour away, she was around a lot, when not working, making sure that Paco and Jesus where living in a clean house and eating well, to be fair it seemed to me they coped very well on their own.
I would often met at my front door with black bin bags full of peppers or potatoes. Country wine (brain damage as I call it !) Chilli's, cabbages the size of a table, bay leaves (enough to last a lifetime) basically anything they had grown they would give us a share. In the early days before the bar, I was feeling so out of exchange with them I started to make cakes and biscuit to give them, the girls never complained either ! I just wanted to give them something back and as we had no land to grow, what could I do, it became easier when we had the bar as we started swapping beer for veg, win win !!
The rest of our neighbours where just as friendly, the old lady next door, who lived alone, very kind, her family owns a large house the other side of the road (the sunny side), always greeting me with a smile and a kiss. Then you have the Spainish property developer, who showed me around his rather plush house, in comparisons to the others here, with its swimming pool built behind in, not that I think it has ever been used !
Then the old lady with her mentally handicapped son, Jose, she looks about 100 with no teeth and very badly fitting dentures, that fall from the top of her month when she speaks. They live in one room, a very basic kitchen with open fire and then I think they have a bedroom, which they have to walk outside to get too !
I find him a little difficult, too touchy feely for my liking ! However always turning up with popcorn or asking for a fag. Nice enough but just didn't totally trust him, I will stress he never did anything for me not to trust him.
Rumour has it that the Dad walked out when he was a baby, and he had a older sister, who he was playing with one day and accidentally drown, I don't know if this is true or not and there is noway I will ever ask !
So for now that's the neighbours, our landlord also had another house to rent opposite and there is a few holiday homes, the other end of the row of houses was a few other people, but we didn't really see them, as they never past our house or us theirs.
Would things stay this calm ? This is our story so of course not !!!
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Home number three in less that a year !!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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January was a busy month ! For Loreena's Birthday we took the girls to Mini Hollywood. Mini Hollywood is a Wild West theme park, where in years gone by they used to film the Westerns, also films like Back To The Future 2 and Raiders of the lost Arc. Now a tourist attraction with a zoo, swimming pool, shows and Can can dancers. January is the right time to go as in the summer not only is it packed, but because it is situated in the only desert in Europe, it's unbelievable hot ! It is well worth a visit, we always have a fantastic time !
Also we were now putting a lot of effort into finding somewhere else to rent, places to buy just weren't what we wanted. After asking around, we found a lovely clean house, about 2kms out of Serón, in a small hamlet comprising of about 8 houses. It had a roof terrace, four bedrooms, lounge, large kitchen, dining room and a shower room, plus the add bonus of a two store rooms, under stairs cupboard and garage !
It came with more beds than I have ever seen in one house, every bedroom had at least two, even the smallest room, which really was only big enough for one !!
We started to pack up and down all the stairs we went ! We moved in early February, leaving a few days lap over, so I could make sure the flat was clean and tidy with all the land lady's pictures back on the wall, I have a thing about having my own pictures up !
We had hot water which delighted us, but the house itself was cold. It got no sun as it was on the wrong side of the road ! So we asked permission from the landlord to put in a barrel type fire, the only form of heating was a BBQ in the fireplace in the kitchen, it didn't heat the house, just filled it full of smoke, we had tried to remove the BBQ and use it as a fire, but with the same results ! At first we put our barrel fire in the chimney in the kitchen, but then the landlord said there was a blocked chimney in the front room. There was no way I was going to or let anyone else cut a hole in the ceiling, so bless him he came and did it for us! What a difference, lovely and toasty, I hate being cold and living in the mountains it can get very cool !
The girls got the school bus from outside the front door, perfect !
I started going into the town hall on a daily basic asking if a decision had now been made! Not yet, wait ! I got the house all straight knowing that when a decision was made it would be like the tender, oh yes you have three days to get the contract back !! I didn't mind I had enough to do while we waited !
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The start of something !
Monday, February 25, 2013
On with my Epic story !
The New Year had began, and boy what a year it proved to be !
Our first Three Kings, the town hall told us it started at 5pm, so there we are all wrapped up waiting in the town square, not really knowing what to expect, where were all the people ? We waited and waited, not wanting to go home and miss it. It started at 7pm, it was well worth the wait !
Three cars arrived with decorated trailers attached and three people in each dressed up. By the square was packed and we followed the crowd, following the cars, sweets where thrown and it was great fun, all round the streets of Serón, up to the top square and down the narrow streets on the other side of town back to the main square ! We were not organised with bags to collect the sweets, so filled our pockets, until a kind person gave the girls a bag !
The Three Kings then entered the town hall standing at an open window, gave a speech,what I could make out was he was thanking everyone for coming and wishing as all a happy new year, the speech went on for about five minutes, so I must have not understood most of it !! The speech was followed by more sweet throwing !
Then the Three kings came onto the square and sat on their thrones! The kids all lined up and each child was given yet more sweets and a small gift ! My kids loved it, it really felt like we were involved in a community, I can't remember ever in England feeling so much community spirt ! It was amazing, it still is amazing and I am grateful for it every single day !
By the end of January the town hall were bored of me going in all the time asking about the tender for the bar, I was wearing thin ! So they decided to give it to me ! Who says perseverance doesn't pay off ! It had been over four months since I first asked !
We got a pleasant surprise not only had they given us the tender for Felipes old bar, but also for the swimming pool bar. We had been to the pool the summer before but never gone in the bar because they only had one table outside and it looked so uninviting, possible the only bar in Seron we had not been in!
We had three days to make up our mind and fill in the paper work and hand it in !
We talked about it, went through the tenders and one stood out as being a much better option ! So we drove down to the Swimming pool bar and looked through the windows, needed a lot of cleaning and painting, but the rent was so much cheaper and this one had so much outside space for the girls to play in, where as Felipe's bar had none and also needed a lot of work and the rent was double !
I worked with Rocia to get the paper work done, she and Felipe were as always totally brilliant and put themselves out to help us, real friends ! We took all the paperwork to our lawyer to be checked over, he said it was all standard and okay to sign, so we signed the tender.
I took the tender back completed and signed to the town hall and they told me I would know sometime in the next three months ! What we had waited all this time for the tender and had just three days to hand it in and now they needed another three months to make a decision, I had to laugh, just found it so funny !
Now we were excited, had chosen a bar we had never been in and now had to just wait !
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Let me make something very clear !
Sunday, February 24, 2013
I would like to clear a few things up as it appears some sensitive souls feel I am bad mouthing expats. This is not my intention.
I feel maybe I haven't painted a very good picture of where we live !
Seron is a stunning village in between Albox and Baza, it is very Spanish !
The expat community is very small here, that is one reason we chose it, we wanted to live in Rural Spain !
But it has it's downsides, you are thrown with other expats that if you meet in any other situation you would be polite to but not spend time with. Here at the beginning we could not speak Spanish ( only ourselves to blame!). As we knew people here, we became involved in that circle, because it was easy. I am quite sure that I am not everyone's cup of tea and in a different situation they would not have befriended me !
I have many friends who are expats, most don't live in Serón (some do!) but they are the people I chose to be friends with and who chose me, it's a two way street.
I had not meet any of these people before we had the bar and am extremely grateful to have these amazing people in my life ! However the majority of the expats we meet at the begining have proven not to be friends at all and have caused us no end of problems, so yes I am anti them, and if you decide to continue reading, maybe you think I am right to be !!
As for living here, as I have said before, I would not change it, maybe make a few different decisions, but change where we live never ! Change the friends I have,expats and Spanish, no don't think so, they are the people I want in my life and as long as they want me in their lives I am here !
Living in a community with more expats I can see would be easier as you will have more choice, however I am sure that some of you have had the same issues, where you have stepped off the plane and into a circle of people that just aren't your type and over time have moved away from them !
Here's to living a happy life with only people that you want in it !
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Our first Christmas in Spain !
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Christmas was approaching and still no tender from the town hall. The good thing was we were getting to grips with bar Spanish, however it was not going to be anywhere good enough !
The girls were getting excited, we decorated the flat and even the girls rooms it looked like Santas grotto !
My Dad was coming over and I had decided to cook a traditional English Christmas dinner, an interesting decision as we had no oven, but then I never go for the easy option !
I borrowed a slow cooker and was shown how to use it, I had my vegetable steamer, so although we wouldn't be having roast potatoes, we would have the rest.
What I hadn't taken into account was the electrics in the flat, they would blow if I had anything on with the tumble dryer (we had to buy one, because the flat was so cold nothing was drying !). They blow if we had a electric heater on for too long, in fact they were not up to the job, but we were used to it, electrics blow turn everything off, flick the switch in the hall and don't plug everything back in !!
Christmas Eve and I placed the Chicken (my family aren't keen on Turkey and I don't eat meat !) in the slow cooker and surprise, surprise the electrics blow. I went through the same routine and but the switch in the hall, just keep going down. What do I do now ? I knew the town hall was open, so I popped up and they kindly called an electrician for me, I could make myself understood face to face with research from a dictionary, but over the phone had no hope. Our hero arrived about 10 minutes later, showed me that basically I had melted the whole fuse, it was a real mess, oops ! He changed the whole thing with a stronger fuse so we wouldn't have the same problem again ! When I asked how much we owed him, he wasn't really interested, said another day, but I insisted and he when oh, 20€ !
Living in Spain may have its challenges but where in the UK would you get that sort of service any day of the week, let alone Christmas Eve and for that price !
We had a lovely Christmas, with Dad and the girls. Father Christmas came, the girls were a bit worried he wouldn't find them ! They had a mountain of presents and also we had brought my old Sindy Dolls house from England, so they had that as a special present. We had a lovely quiet day and the dinner turned out great and no more electrical problems! Friends popped in for drinks in the evening which was lovely.
Our first New Year's Eve in Spain, wasn't how I had imagined it, this was our fault for going down the expat line ! We had been invited to (we will call them) Mr and Mrs W's with most of the expat community of Serón, although it was very pleasant, the kids were bored and to be fair I was too ! The Curry was good though ! Just after midnight I called my best friend as we had for a few years spent New Year together and I really missed her, we always have a laugh and she has twins the same age as Loreena so the girls are never bored!
I was really starting to fit in with the Spanish community even though I still couldn't speak a reasonable level of Spanish and the more time I spent with the Expats the more determined I became to fit in with the Spanish community. At this point I hadn't meet any expats that if we where in England I would want to spend time with. Barry's old friends Tim and Debbie where ok, but they were not my friends and there was something underlying that I couldn't put my finger on. Also the fact Tim had offered Barry work and it hadn't materialised, now in fact, the subject was changed if the Mill came up. Or maybe it was as simple as they just didn't like me ! I did not trust them now, perhaps they picked up on that ! Not that I worry about being popular, I am what I am and am well past the point where I care about what others say or think about me ! I always try to think the best of people, until they prove me wrong and if I can help someone I will, however I don't suffer fools. I was finding the gossiping and back biting hard to take.
A New year and what a year it turned out to be !
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Black eyes and bruises !
Friday, February 22, 2013
Time continued to tick by, like it does ! Still I was going into the Town asking for the tender for the bar and no joy !
The girls had started having problems in school. The two other English kids started to try and create a Spanish, English divide. My girls didn't want to know and because of this they had turned on them. I had already stopped them seeing each other outside school because of the behaviour of these two kids was so horrible.
They spend too much time in my view running wild in the streets, climbing through ruined houses, terrorising people.
One lovely old lady, who had the misfortune of living next door to these very troubled kids, would stop me almost everyday asking for help, even with my very limited Spanish I could understand how distressed she was. These children would throw things at her, wee from the roof terrace onto her, break in to her house, knock on the door them run away, shout insults at her. She was beside herself and it appeared the police were unable to do anything to stop it, they sent the Mum to the justice of the peace, threaten to take the kids away, sent them to family counselling in Almeria, but things just got worse to the point the then 11 year old daughter started torturing and killing cats.
This was my worst nightmare and more ! I wanted my girls to be totally integrated and not be in a school with racial divides and here in was happening. I wrote to the teachers, I spoke with teachers explained I didn't want these kids near mine. At its worst my girls were coming home with black eyes, bumps on the head, bruises everywhere, they were trying to avoid them but would get locked in the loo or cornered when their friends weren't about. I tried talking to the Mum but she seemed to think it was all normal !!
Thankfully someone above started to listen, these kids stopped going to school !
My girls started to thrive again. Then a miracle happened the family returned to the UK, since that point, there has been no issues at school, they only bruises they come back with now are when they fall over which is not often and they love school and get good school reports.
As time went on and the summer faded, the flat got colder ! The windows didn't close properly I had to pin a blanket at Mysty's room because of the gale blowing through. But that wasn't the worst, in the Summer the water had been a good temperature, but now the pipes where cold so was the water ! It was unbearable, we were unable to use the shower it was so cold, in order to have a bath we had to fill pans of water and boil them on the hob. We had the boiler looked at but it made no difference. We needed to move again !
We had seen a number of houses for sale, only one that we liked enough to make an offer on!
It wasn't perfect, in the centre of town with no parking, but you could get the car to the front door, just not park there. It needed a huge amount of work but it had some great features, downstairs was totally untouched, still set up as animal housing, but was huge, spilt into three rooms, one would have made a great kitchen dinner, the other an apartment and the third was like an inside garden, it went all the way through to the roof terrace a tunnel through the house and I could just see how amazing it could be, but I would want to change the walls for glass bricks to make it a light house, which it really wasn't ! Upstairs every room bar two ran around the tunnel it was odd, so of course I liked it ! This house needed everything doing ! Up on the top floor was a small room and then a huge roof terrace and if you faced the back you could see the castle and straight ahead the church. The view was amazing. We were slightly worry as all the surrounding houses were derelict, one majorly so.
We put in an offer and got things going, but then a paperwork issue arouse, which could take up to two years to sort out, the vendors agreed to foot the bill. We decided to pull out and when the paperwork was completed we would look at it again. By that time we decided we wanted to live in the campo so never offered again !
I would really like to thank you all for reading my blog, I am loving writing it and hope you are enjoying our story !
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Action begins !
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The seed had been sewn and now action was needed, big action.
Barry went with Felipe to see the Mayor, who told them, we would have to tender for the bar and couldn't just take over Felipes contract.
Felipe closed his bar down and set up a successful phone shop in the town, when the opportunities arrived he moved it to the slightly larger town of Tijola, five minutes drive away, where he is still thriving.
I started going into the town hall on a daily basis asking for the tender ! Not ready, not yet.
This gave Rocia and I a change to prepare for what the town hall would ask for. They would want to see what activities you would put on for the old people (as it was the old people's bar). What we could offer in every area. We also put in place an accountant, who is also a lawyer, so that all that side was squared up and we could get the contact checked by him before we signed.
Barry and I continued our Spanish classes with Rocia, but now things changed to teaching us what drinks were in spanish and the huge amounts of different coffees and different names for the same thing.
The time laps gave us time to prepare, but you can never totally prepare, the biggest lessons are taught in the situation. And it turned into a baptism of fire.
The months ticked slowly by, October arrived and we returned to England for my Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary. It was a lovely evening all the family, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles. People I knew I was related to but had no clue how ! Mum had known all of them, who they were, their names, ages and how they fitted into the family tree. No other family member had the same knowledge as her, Nan of course would know but she was a little busy ! Mum was really missed that night, by us all, it was the first family gathering since her funeral, the mix of sure joy to be celebrating such an amazing event and the pain of knowing Mum would have been the organiser if things had been different, made for an emotional visit.
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Sleep Deprivation !
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I love fiestas, I love the way everyone is together to have fun, there is never any trouble, no fighting, loads of drinking, but somehow no drunks !
I love the dancing, in fact I am well known here, for it ! Even this first year I would pick a random old person and dance the night away. I meet a lovely old gentleman that first year, who was staying with his sister, we danced and to this day, she kisses me every time we meet in town. She explained later (when my Spanish was at a point I could understand her !) what a difference I had made to him and her that night. All I was doing was having fun, but is great to think that such a small act brought joy to others.
I also have a table of three old ladies that I always dance with at fiestas, they are unable dance to all the music, but they take it in turns to sit it out, recover and then are off again !
Then there is walking Pepe and his wife Rosada, lovely people, you will hear more about them in due course, they love to dance but Rosada now struggles to keep up, so Pepe and Paso doble the night away!
They are always surprised that I know how to do the Paso doble, but to be fair it is just going round in circles, so not difficult. I am not a dancer just enjoy it, I just go for it. I am well past caring what I look like and what people think, although I do embarrass Loreena, my daughter, but I think she secretly likes it !
Living in the middle of a fiesta, is a very interesting thing. In the flat we had the bumper cars one side starting at 10pm and finishing about 6am, the day fiesta in the school starting at midday and finishing about 6pm and then the town square with the big bands which rehearsed at about 6pm, performed from midnight and finished at 9.30am.
It was great from the view point that it seemed like the band was in our front room, but by the end of the five days we were all really exhausted, with only a three hour slot to sleep it was no wonder !
Barry and I would take the girls home about 4am, they would fall asleep, but I couldn't it was just so loud. One day I danced in our front room to Europes 'The Final Count Down', when Barry was taking his turn in staying out. The rest of the time I decided if you can't beat them join them, I would never have dreamed of going out in the middle of the night on my own in England, but here I am quite happy to go and even to go into bars on my own. It is totally expectable and I always have someone to talk too !
At this time our friend Felipe told us, he had had enough of running the bar and was going to give the keys back to the town hall after Fiesta. He suggested we talked to the Mayor about taking over his contract. Us running a bar, with our very limited Spanish, was he mad ? He said he would help us with all the paper work and teaching us the drinks in Spanish and anything else we may need to know ! We talked about it and as Barry's job was still nowhere in sight we decided why not, if nothing else it would improve our Spanish !
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Fiesta !!!!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Fiestas Patronales de Serón
The first year we were living in the flat, this was amazing experience although tiring !
Fiestas Patronales de Serón is a five day long Fiesta and like everything else here is done properly.
During the day, starting at 12.00 is the day fiesta, which takes place in the school, bear in mind that we were over looking the school ! This had Karaoke, live music or a disco everyday. From here a train, well a motorised train, that went all the way round the outskirts of the village and back again. Not overly exciting but the girls loved it !
Then in the turning circle opposite the flat (the other side to the school) was the bumper cars. Watching them putting them up was remarkable. The turning circle had a area of waste land that fell away from the road, as I watched, they lifted three lampposts out of the ground, I had no idea why at that point but I was mesmerised. Then over the next hours breeze blocks and wooden crates where laid, on top of which they placed the track for the bumper cars. I had never seen anything like it, it would never be allowed in the UK, but it is one of those things that make here so special !
The bumper cars are bumper cars, not doggams like in the UK, you are encouraged to bump and have fun. The music is all heavy base and shook the flat, it started at 10pm every night.
Walking up to the main square the road was lined with stalls selling cakes, gifts, clothes and toys. The goffe stall (waffles), I find these disappointing, way to sweet for me and just like the cakes, promise to deliver something amazing and fails every time ! There were shooting stalls to win prizes. Further up the Roast Chicken stall with tables and chairs. Opposite the Churros and chocolate stand with covered area with tables and chairs, these are not to be missed, they really are so delicious the crunch of the Churros dipped in the warm rich chocolate, just melts in your mouth, heavenly !
As we walked up there was the bull ride, where the children and later after a few drinks adults as well ! The torros (bulls) are made up of long thin tubes which have bulls head one end and are padded along the whole length, with padding covering the whole floor area!
The kids sit three to a bull, they have three in total. The tubes turn from side to side and the operator shouts hands up, wave, lie down, sit up and it is mayhem bodies falling in every direction, no one manages to stay the distances !
Further up is a bouncy castle and a bouncy activity centre and the bumper cars for smaller children. Opposite is the baked potato van, again a fiesta must, they are cooked to perfection and you have a choice of about 20 fillings all added after the mix of ketchup and garlic mayo, lush !
Next to that, is the first of the make shift bars, with a ticket stand next to it, you queue to buy the tickets you will want for the night and take them to the bar, this works well as the bar only has to serve drinks and not worry about taking any money.
Onto the square and in front of the town hall has been turned into an amazingly professional stage, with lighting ridge, huge speakers, everything you would expect from a concert in Wembley arena !
The square has two other bars both using the ticket system and the first year 'Casa Blanca', at that time the Town square bar, traditional Spanish with good Tapas, it has now closed down to make way for a modern larger bar. Casa Blanca served drinks like wine that the other bars didn't sell.
The plaza was packed every night ! Seron more than doubles in population for this Fiesta. Many coming from Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, coming back to family homes that stand empty the rest of the year. Barcelona has an area which is mainly populated with people who originally came from Serón, but had to leave in search of work when the iron ore mine closed in 1970.
To be continued .........
 
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Seron Activa
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Seron Activa
Seron Activa is the most amazing event. It's all Free .
The first year we were here it took place in and around the town square.
As we walked towards the town square we where greeted by quad bikes and bouncy castles, the girls where jumping for joy, it looked amazing with the back drop of the narrow street heading Into the town, it was a little unreal. But that was just the tip of the iceberg as we entered the square it was packed with trampolines (big ones with harnesses) and people. A climbing wall had been set up and then I saw it ! They had made a rope walk across half of the square about 12ft up, unbelievable. I can only imagine what the view was like up there, over the whole of Serón to the mountain beyond ! The girls to my horror both went on and loved it, Loreena went twice, no wonder I am going grey !!
They had turned under the theatre area, a covered area off the main square into an ice skating rink ! Wow, how amazing to be in bright sunshine, feeling lovely and warm whilst skating on an ice rink !
There were people painting faces and braiding hair and this was all just in the town centre.
We followed the crowd and found the horses ! At the bottom of town in a piece of waste land, there they were, the girls where so excited ! We stood in line and then the were off!
The other side of the road they had paint balling and a hot air ballon ! This is not a small event !
Seron Activa took place on Saturday and Sunday. Midday Sunday a huge paella was cooked, we had never seen one so huge, it easily catered for 500+ people. All free with salad and bread and wine to accompany it. When Serón does any sort of fiesta they do it well !
We had really started to make inroads into the community, but not like we are today, we are now totally integrated ! And I love the fact that we live in this small community that takes pride in its inhabitants, always putting on different activities for them. They have an active women's group who do a huge range of activities, from arts and crafts to outings. The Library offers so much more than just books, free computer classes for all ages, help, support and advice all for free.
Fully fitted gym, with wide arrange of classes, this afternoon the girls have a free yoga class there.
The swimming pool with life guards all for only 1€ per person, per day (only open in summer).
People here are always willing to help each other, it really is beautiful!
Don't get me wrong to get to where we are today has been hard work and there has been a lot of ups and downs, but I have never wanted to leave here, although most people would have faced with what we have overcome, continue reading my blog to find out what I am talking about .........
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First Fiesta !!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
In the next few blogs I am going to share with you the first three fiestas we witnessed and took part in,in Serón.
The first happened when we still were living in Bridget's house we had been in Seron about a month. We sat on the roof terrace and we could see a procession of gypsy style wagons (well trailers made to look like wagons ) everyone dressed in traditional Spanish costume, music blaring, it looked so spectacular from up so high, that we decided to go and investigate.
This is the fiesta 'Romeria de la Virgen de la Cabeza' we now know a bit more about it but back then we knew nothing !
They carry the tradition religious status up to the little church at the top of a very steep hill, the church of 'de la Virgen de la Cabeza', it is about getting back to the gypsy roots, with the whole town including the horses, joining in. Then the 'virgen's', there are two one carried by women, one by men (they both look pretty heavy to me and I am not going to be volunteering!) are carried round what are now houses, but I understand that at least one used to be a stable. Four different houses, up the road, the Las Menas road to the bend and back to another little church. That first year it all seemed very odd, very personal, but very beautiful, that was the only year since being here we haven't been involved ! We are always welcomed with open arms and could very easily,be very drunk,very quickly as every wagon has its own summer wine, well lethal punch and they all want you to try theirs. I have worked out to hold other people's glasses and refresh them with what I can't drink. Lucky my friends are more than happy with this arrangement !
On the Sunday of 'de la Virgen de la Cabeza' is the day the whole town goes into the Rambler, riverbed, for a picnic, every family group has the spot that they have always had and friends are asked to join. It starts at 10am, with setting up tables, tents, generator for the music, camp fire. This is a real picnic, taken seriously, no plastic sheets on the floor here !
The drinking and eating starts almost straight away, the amount of food and drink that is consumed is unbelievable, our group is normally five families, we all put 50€ in the pot and that supplies us all day ! Tapas to start, Jamón, cheese, olives, nuts, salted fish, pisto (homemade tomato and pepper preserve, a bit like ratatouille) which is to die for !
About 2pm paella, will the food, we all drink beer and wine. When we finish eating we move on to the copas (shorts), I never do this bit, for me not a great idea, I stick to the wine, drank very slowly, so I can still stand up !!
Then more food, meat cooked on the fire, pork, sausages, black pudding, chorizo, lamb. They are now drinking beer and wine again. Coffee is also served after every meal, between the beer and the copas !
This is a well organised event and a true honer that we are invited every year and a fiesta we would not miss. Although as it is April can be a bit cold and one year it was raining, so we ending up in the family cortijo, small country house, which is kept just for family party's, as in belongs to them all and needs work to make it liveable full time, it was decided that party house was the best plan !! I love that, a house just for party's, genius idea !!!
Next time what happens when Seron gets active .....
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Flat life !
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Flat life !
Living in a flat in the centre of Seron had a lot of plus points, although of course it had a few downsides also !
We moved in just as summer was approaching. The flat was lovely and warm, yet not to hot. Unlike the house which was so cold I used to put a jumper on when I went in ! It had a small balcony's from the front room and another from Mysty's (our daughter) bedroom and a third from Loreena's (our oldest daughter) bedroom. They were very small not even a chair would fit on them, but it did mean we could have them open and get some air in !
It was a noisy street to live in and we had no yet adjusted to Spanish life, we found this difficult until we got used to it !
We hadn't been in long when two men turned up at our door to check our gas appliances,I checked their ID and all looked fine to me, so I let them in. They checked the gas fire, pipe dates all ok, then moved to the boiler in the kitchen. Well in fact it was off the kitchen in an area that had once been a terrace, but was now covered in to house the boiler and washing machine !
They took one look at the boiler and must have thought bingo pay day ! The boiler didn't have an air vent and was not only illegal but dangerous ! They told me it would cost 550€ to fix. I informed them it wasn't my decision or responsibility and got the landlady on the phone, she told them to go ahead and if I could pay them, she would pay me back.
Which she did. However it turns out that although these men where gas engineers, they were not employed by the gas company, like they said they were and were going door to door scamming people. We had been lucky on two counts the boiler did need a vent and we didn't have to pay for the work ! Others have not been so lucky and many stories have been going around about people being charged three or four times what the work should cost, Spanish and English have all been done around here.
If you have a knock on the door, they are not from the gas company, they will be very pushy ! Pick up the phone to call the gas company and they will leave ! Don't get caught ! Also check the dates on pipes to gas fires as they deteriorate over time. You can buy the pipe in any ferreteria (hardware store) for a couple of euros.
The flat overlooked the school, so nice and close for the school run (or walk). We has a supermarket round the corner, chemist across the road. We were on the doorstep of everything, Spanish lessons, Felipes bar and the town square, with the park. No more struggling up hill and walking from the car, normally we could park outside and if not the next street along had a turning circle, which always had a space.
Living in the flat really got me known in the village, the kids playing in the park helped, we started to really settle in and find our feet.
Work had started on the Mill, but even though Tim was complaining about the amount of work he had and how he needed another pair of hands, whenever Barry said well I am here, he either would ignore it or just say don't need anyone really !
So what happened to the labouring job then ? It vanished as soon as the work started!
We had only moved the whole family over, thinking that Barry had work until the outdoor activity centre was finished and he could start managing it ! No big deal only our family on the line !
We knew also that the work would take a year or two to complete if no problems arose, we had limited money, so started looking for other ways to make a living, because by now, we all loved Serón and did not want to return to the UK.
What can you do to earn money if you live in rural Spain, and don't speak Spanish ? In a village that is 98% non English speaking !
Next time first fiestas .....
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Published at 4:48 PM Comments (1)
Finding our feet !
Monday, February 11, 2013
We moved everything in, and set to work !
The girls started school the first few weeks were really hard for them, they had had Spanish lesson in England, but not nearly enough.
Their first friends had come straight over to them on day one, sisters who lived in the Children's home, they took their hands and looked after them. The remained friends until the summer when the girls were adopted.
I was pleasantly surprised how well the girls got on at school, Mysty our youngest and more out going, just got on with it and that was that. Loreena had had problems with her confidence in England, but after two weeks was no longer crying at the school gate everyday, she had in England.
Barry and I cracked on with the house, just really to make it more comfortable. Barry also started doing some hiking and research for when the Mill opened (which he would be running as an outdoor activity centre), the planning permission was no yet through, so no work had started on it.
I started to get known around the town, I just would say 'hola' to everyone who I walked pasted. I loved how openly pleased to see me they were and how just that one simple act made their faces light up. Although I have since been told it was frustrating for them as they wanted to have conversation and I couldn't. Only a few months ago I was stopped in the street, by a lady who doesn't live here full time, she said in Spanish 'I am really sorry but do I know you, as you always say hello to me ?' Slightly embarrassed I had to explain, that no, she didn't know me, I just like to say hello to everyone.
We settled in to life, spent too much time with expat's maybe, but in the beginning with no Spanish it is difficult to integrate. We did however quickly made friends with Felipe and his wife Rocia, they ran the old people's bar under the town square, he spoke a bit of English so we could communicate. Rocia started giving us Spanish lessons. They have been and continue to be great friends, always there if we need them and supported us without question through thick and thin. We are so grateful to have them in our lives and If you guys are reading this, which they more than likely are ! Thank you your friendship it means the world to us and when are you coming up for a beer ?
The girls had fitted well into school even with the language problem, none of the teachers, not even the English teacher, could speak English, so to communicate I started spending hours writing notes from the dictionary.
Things ticked along like this for about two and half months, still finding our feet. I had been slightly put out when I had found out that their was in fact three other English kids in the school, I had thought there was none. One little boys was a lot younger than my two and so they had nothing to do with him. But the other two ! One in the class above Loreena the other in her class. To begin with this wasn't a problem, but it would become one as time went on !
All was going well, work was to start on the Mill soon, the house was better, that is apart from the fact that the house in front had its roof replaced which filled our house with dust and gave me the most awful cough !
Then out of the blue Bridget ( our landlady) phoned, 'you have to leave the house, by next week, we need to give it back !) WHAT ! She didn't explain why, just we had to leave and that was that !
It was a weird time, so many unanswered questions, who did she have to give the house back too ? The bank, the bailiffs, some heavy's ? We had no idea, until later !
I got straight down to the local Spanish Estate agents office, closed, but it had a number on the door. I got the young man who had translated for us before to ring Isabel, lucky she had one flat in Serón to rent, we arranged to see it the next day. The flat was on the third floor overlooking the school it was a large three bedroom and clean and tidy, we signed the six month contract there and then.
Now we had to get all our stuff out of the house, down the alley way, blocking it with stuff, parking the car in the narrow street, blocking that whilst we loaded up and then up three flights of stairs, we paid the translated and his brother to help us, we were in within four days !
As I was stood outside my Spanish class, a Spanish couple approached me. They explained that we had lived in their house and they knew we had moved out, but they wanted the keys back from Bridget and did I know how to contact her !! What we had rented a house from someone that didn't own it !!
It turns out that they had paid a deposit, the Spanish couple had agreed that they could move in until the rest of the paperwork was done, but Bridget had for some reason not paid the rest of the money or completed on the sale ! Unbelievable !
I still see the Spanish couple on a regular basis, as I walk round town and they are always charming and give me a kiss, how lucky we were they didn't just turn up on the door step demanding their house back ! Bless them !
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The big move !
Sunday, February 10, 2013
I would like to make one thing very clear, yes we have had a lot of problems in Spain, yes mainly because we were naive, many just because that is our journey and the lessons we needed to learn. Many because of other people. But would we jack it all in and return to the UK, No way !
We love it here, it is our home and at times can be very challenging, but the pro's out way the con's for us. This blog is nothing more than me sharing our experiences and if one person avoids one of our mistakes that's a bonus. Enjoy our story !
The big move !!
We decided that we would move lot, stock and barrel in the Easter holidays of 2008. The girls could then leave school at the end of term, but our eldest wouldn't have to sit the stat exams at the beginning of the following term. It was really important for us that she didn't do this exam, because at that time she was a nervous little thing who worried endlessly and not being the sort of child who fitted well into the school system in the UK. She has always been social and caring child, which helped her get through the trauma of a UK school.
As the housing market had was now well and truly crashing, we decided to rent our house out. As I opened the door to the prospective tenant, it was amazing ! She said 'I love it!', she hadn't even walked through the door yet ! Kirsty and I hit it off start away, as it turned out I was to bump into that night at a group I went to every week ! Fate really wanted us to meet that day !
The contract was signed and the moving date set.
Barry along with an old family friend who lived on the coast in Spain, would drive the hired long based van, to Tim and Debbie's off load and then Rolf would drive onto the coast and drop the van off.
Barry would go two weeks before us, I would stay with my Dad, take the kids to school and clean the house from floor to ceiling ready for Kirsty to move in. We had goodbye parties to go to with the girls school friends and other family and friends to visit, before the off !
Barry had to find us a house to rent and get the girls into the school. He had the help of a translator and the school was sorted easily.
The house however was a bit more difficult !
Tim knew an Irish couple who had just moved out of their house in the centre of Serón, to live in Mojacar Playa, he asked them and they agreed to rent it to us. We needed a contract in order to get our NIE numbers, Bridget (the owner) wasn't keen on this idea, but in the end did give us a contract of sorts! ( It was good enough to get the NIE, so no problem).
My Dad took the girls and I to the airport, it was a weird feeling, I had never travelled on my own with the girls before and even though Dad was booked to come out in two weeks, it all seemed very final. The girls as always were brilliant,all full of excitement, but beautifully behaved.
Barry collected us from the airport and we stayed in the apartment we had rented from Tim and Debbie for two more nights, whilst we moved everything into our new house.
When I saw the house I could have killed Barry ! He had explained it to me on the phone and made it sound ideal. He had said that it needed some work, but not much and also we may be able to buy it at a later point. He was in another world ! The house needed loads of work and some structural !
It was in the middle of the village which meant you couldn't get a car near it, ok not the end of the world, just makes moving in interesting ! Then we went inside ! Oh my God, it was rough, full of Bridget's belongings and filthy !
As you walk through the front door into an entrance hall, stairs on the right, next to and under them was the bathroom, well bathroom is a slightly ambitions statement a toilet, sink and shower, all squeezed into an under stairs cupboard and painted black !!
It front of the front door was a long narrow room, used as a bedroom with no windows. On the left was a large kitchen, very Spanish in style, basic but workable !
Upstairs was a landing, with the best feature of the house a build in glass fronted cabinet, rough as been painted so many times, but when I looked at it I just saw how it used to be ! To the right was a bedroom, this had a very interesting feature, a toilet ! The toilet was in the middle of one end of the room, didn't even come with a sink ! Oh and this bedroom didn't have a door on it ! Very interesting bit of interior design, not that I would recommend it !
Then there was another bedroom that adjoined another bedroom, again without a door, but would be perfect for the girls as separate rooms but not, would help them being close together !
Upstairs again, to a good size lounge, with a small room off it, which became our bedroom and also a small roof terrace. The roof terrace was my favourite part of the house although of course it was in a very sad state with the wooden shade falling down, but it had a great view to of the mountain road to Las Menas !
We had our work cut out painting every room, to get rid of the very badly painted flowers and black paint, the bottom bedroom we turned into storage for all Bridget's rubbish, it quickly became full floor to ceiling. The bedroom with the toilet feature became storage for our things, as I didn't plan to live here long I wanted my own house and this was NOT it !
To be continued ......
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NIE Saga - How to make a simple thing very complicated !
Saturday, February 9, 2013
I would like to start today's blog by thanking all of you that are reading and commenting.
Also to explain the house hunting I wrote about in previous blogs happen just over five years ago, when prices where higher. Also that although there are many properties with paperwork problems that can be fixed, the property we tried to buy didn't have the house on its deeds at all, which is why we pulled out ! There are agents out there that are ethical, just finding them can be an issue. We have come across a few that can be trusted.
On with the next instalment :
NIE saga - how to make a simple thing very complicated !
As you, I am sure know, need an NIE number to buy a house, car and for all official paperwork here in Spain.
You would think this would be easy to get and it should be, however we made it really difficult by listening to the experts ! The expats already living in Spain !
If you haven't got an NIE number yet, do yourself a huge favour and pay a solicitor to do it for you or this could happen to you !
We made the mistake of thinking that people living in Spain knew more than us and listened to their advise, this proved to be both, expensive and time consuming.
Seron is in the province of Almeria, but we were told we could get our NIEs in Baza even though it is in Granada province. We were put in touch with an English lady who was very interesting (but not in a good way!). She was an expert at getting us Brits NIEs, she knew how to fill in all the forms, what paperwork you needed and all the people in the town hall that did this type of work ! Sounded great a quick, easy and cheaper that a solicitor.
All the paperwork was in place and we arranged to meet her at 8am the following morning. It was freezing cold, we waited and waited, then it became clear the town hall wasn't opening that day !
We arranged to meet the expert, that we were paying, the following morning, we wanted to get it all sorted before we returned to England in a few days later.
We met the expert, stood in line, when we got to the front it became clear that her Spanish was only slightly better than mine, which was a worry, as at that point I could only say 'hola and adios'!
Then the man at the desk in broken English told us that we couldn't get the NIEs in Baza as we wanted to buy in Serón, which is in a different province !
Great, we had paid someone who knew next to nothing ! We never saw her again !
To get your NIE you either need a letter from a solicitor saying you are buying a property or a valid rental agreement. This became interesting after we moved here as we rented and the landlady wasn't keen to give us one, she did agree in the end ! Our first house here is a different story I will tell you about another day !
Okay, what do we do now ! On that trip we didn't have time to go to Almeria, we returned to England empty handed !
We returned to Spain with my Dad and after a heavy first night, travelled to Almeria, address and paperwork in hand.
We arrived at the address after driving round half of Almeria, this not great fun with the mother of all hangovers !
When we got to the office, we were told that it had moved and given another address and directions.
Not knowing Almeria proved to make finding it difficult, when we at last found it, it was after 2.00 so closed, but at least we knew where it was !
Barry took another translator on the hour and half drive over the mountains to Almeria. The two of them waited in line just to be told the photos he had were the wrong size ! It was unbelievable, all these people had been through the paperwork, to make sure it was correct and these experts had not picked up on the photo size !
The third trip to Almeria we made alone, had done our own research and checked and double checked the paperwork, we had an appointment, arrived before the stated time and waited around for a couple of hours. Our number was called, we walked to the desk with our very limited Spanish and walked out with our NIE numbers in hand ! Thank Goodness!
However we had made another fundamental mistake in the mean time. We had found a car we wanted to buy off an expat, it was a great little car, at a brilliant price. Not having totally learned our lesson yet, we listen when we were told we couldn't buy it without our NIE numbers. So the solution was that we continued to rent a car, as we were now living here. Four weeks went by and we were still no closer to our NIE number, still throwing money away on a hire car. We received the best advise you will ever be given, speak to a solicitor !
We spoke to a solicitor and found you don't need an NIE to buy the car, you can get a piece of paper saying you are getting one, this runs out every 60 days, but can be renewed! We took the hire car back and brought our car !! A very expensive lesson, now learned !
Some friendly advise : go straight to a solicitor and get it all done, quickly and easily. This will save you a lot of trouble and money !!
Or you can go the more expensive adventurous route, but I wouldn't recommend it !!
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Published at 2:24 PM Comments (1)
Getting our money back !
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
We drove straight to Albox to the estate agents to get our deposit back.
We entered the office and calmly explained how we would not be going through with the purchase due to the fact, our solicitor had advised us that the paperwork was incorrect and would not be able to be put right, so would like our deposit back please.
We were informed that only the manager/owner would be able to give it back to us and she was out of the office until the morning.
Then the agent proceeded to tell us how it would not have been an issue if we had used their solictor ! I saw red, and told him, if they hadn't lied everything would have been okay ! I was just about to explain how unethical they were and leave him in no doubt how argue I was, when Barry ordered me out of the office to calm down.
We left I did not calm down !
We returned the next morning and the Owner wouldn't be back until 12.00, here we go is this going to turn into a total nightmare.
We took ourselves for a coffee, whilst we waited the two hours before she would return !
Thinking how lucky we had been. Was the reason the house was left in the state it was because they had had a knock on the door telling them to leave, as they didn't own the house ? We will never know but with two young children we couldn't take that chance. Thank goodness for Phil ( at the time an agent in Mojacar who had recommended our solictor). That one act may well have saved us a lot of money and heartache.
We returned at 12.00. I was already to do a sit in protest in the front court yard of the office, they wouldn't want me there for long, lots of people walking past !
The Owner was now there and paid our deposit back, as we left I assured them we would not be viewing any other properties with them. I have to say I was both surprise and relieved to get the deposit back.
We never saw another property with them !
Let me know what you want to hear about next -
1) NIE (paperwork) saga !
2) How the big move went
3) Getting the bar
Thank you for your support. So much happened before we got the bar, but as this blog is called 'Remarkable stories from a Spanish bar' feel I should give you the choice to jump all this and go straight to our time in the bar, so please let me know !
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Published at 9:05 PM Comments (4)
The joy of house hunting !
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
We arrived back in Serón, it was great to be back and now we started the serious job of house hunting ! The amount of ruins for incredible prices was unbelievable, properties ranging from about 60,000 euros to 200,000 euros and it seemed the higher the price the more unliveable the property was ! Just because the website said they were liveable did not mean they were ! It was a real eye opener. As an ex-estate agent I found it totally incredible how the system worked here, at that time there was not rules or guidelines that were visible to protect either the vendor or the purchaser. Now things are slightly better with the paperwork having to be right and a copy held by the agent, although I would be surprised if all the agents do this !
I decided that there was no way being an estate agent in Spain would be an option for me, as I couldn't be unethical, however I have helped friends by renting out their house for them and done property details for others, just to help them out as property details here don't normally tell the buyer anything. That is as far as I am prepared to go.
The properties I liked where mainly what my Dad called 'money pits' because of the shear amount of work they needed ! The properties Barry and Dad liked were in the most part either two small, too far out or just had no soul. It was not a relaxing trip, everyday viewing properties that looked great on the Internet, but in reality were just pits, some with roofs down, animals living in them, basically, what ever you can imagine we saw it !
Then we found it, one we all liked ! It was partly renovated so we could live in it whilst we finished it. I would still be able to put my mark on it. The house is four bedroomed, the ground floor was almost completed just a few bits and bobs to finish off. It had a second floor which was water tight but needed everything else doing. It had just about the right amount of land and a stable/garage which could easily be turned into a apartment for my Dad and Barry's parents to stay in when they visited.
Because we had been looking around so much Barry had noticed that with this agent the price was 20,000 euros more than with other agents, we found out that the difference in price is the difference agents charge in commission. The Vendor tells the agent what the want for the property and the agent put it on at more and the difference is their commission, nice if you can get it !!
Although we all liked the house we were slightly confused by how the house had been left. Imagine, your messiest morning ever and then imagine double that mess, clothes laying about, washing up on kitchen units, food still on the side (growing) ! This is how we found this house, but no-one lived there, it had personal items everywhere, very odd !
The agent made up a story and because we wanted it we choose to believe it, in hind sight a bit daft really, as this was the same agent who told us it never snowed in Serón, even though he knew we had friends here. It does snow and even at that point I knew that and had seen the pictures !
(Note to self just because you want something don't loss sight of the warning signs!)
We made an offer on the house, which was accepted, we drove to Albox to pay the 3,000 euro holding deposit, the agent handed over a receipt, which stated the deposit would be refunded if the vendors pulled out or the paperwork was not correct. They promised they had seen the paperwork and it was all in order.
We instructed a Solicitor in Mojacar, we had heard stories about solictor's in the area may take back handers to get a sale through and the buyer could end up paying fines and taxes further down the line, we didn't want to risk that happening, so went to Mojacar.
Using a solictor not recommended by the estate agent was against everything I knew from my estate agent days. In England I would only use the solictor recommend by the agent as normally the sale goes through quicker and easier. But I was fast learning that property sales in Spain was a totally different ball game !
Back in the Uk, our house wasn't moving, we dropped the price, which got us an offer, but later they backed out.
We received some unexpected money which allowed us to carry on with the purchase. The solicitor gave us a date that all the paperwork would be ready to sign. My great friend agreed to have the girls, so they could keep going to school. Barry and I booked a flight.
Full of expectations and excitement our first stop was Mojacar to sign the paperwork.
The solictor said 'so you are buying a 40 square meter, single storey property with no land ...'
'NO ! No! No! That's the stable !'
She advised us not to touch it with a barge poll !
I was so livid, I am sure I was breathing fire !
How could they have lied, they told us the paperwork was correct ! They lied and now not only had we flown out for nothing, but also they had 3,000 euros deposit .....
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Published at 5:53 PM Comments (9)
Things will never be the same again !
Monday, February 4, 2013
We returned to the UK and started putting the wheels in motion. We had three valuations on our house, always get three because one will have no idea of value and go way to low, one will go way to high just to get the business and the third will be about right !
I know this because I was an estate agent in London for a number of years, so know what I am talking about ! I also did my own research so I knew what the house was worth before they arrived and would recommend that others do the same, look to see how much other properties are on the market for, how long they have been on the market and most importantly how much similar properties have sold for. I chose the Agent I liked the most and felt would do the best job and told him how much to market it for, backed up with my research ! Unless you haven't done your research they will never disagree with your asking price !
The house went on the market.
But then life changed big style my Mum was diagnosied with a terminal brain tumour. This put everything on hold, the house was withdrawn from the market, my Spanish lessons stopped. My life revolved around caring for my Mum, supporting my Dad and looking after my family.
She had an biopsy to find out which sort of tumour it was and it was downhill from there. The school holidays were spent with the girls and I looking after Mum, she became like an old lady over night, hardly able to talk and walking was very differ cult. However I made sure we had as much fun as possible on the better days we would meet her friends and even managed a trip to her favourite seaside. As the holidays went on we went out less and less. The girls were brilliant only five and six years old I had explained that ' Nanny was very poorly, she had something growing in her head and that she may not get better' they understood and made the most of every second with her !
When school started again in September so did the hospital trips for Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she was having a six week course of them both together. Thats when things got really hard, she was now in pain, headaches, vomiting, her speech was now limited to a word at a time, she was unable to even get to the toilet. I smiled and just got on with it,until I was driving home, everyday I cried the whole way home. It was heart breaking seeing My Mum, the life and soul of the party become a shell and in so much pain.
Mum lasted only a week of her treatment. We were going as a family to see Mum and Dad on that fateful Sunday ! I had sat the girls down on the Saturday and explained that Nanny was getting worse and would die. I also told Barry if I told him to leave, to take the girls and go, don't ask any questions, just leave. He was brilliant through out Mums illness I could not have wished for a more supportive husband.
As we drove into the driveway of my Parents house, my dad was outside on the phone to the ambulance, he told Barry to go. I jumped out of the car and ran upstairs. mum had started fitting in the bath and was now lying on the bed, fighting for her breath, but I knew it was the end. She was there, still alive but not. She draw her last breath in the arms of my dad and me, I watched as her spirt rose to the ceiling. It felt strangely calm and peaceful. That soon changed when the paramedics arrived ! I ran downstairs to show them where she was and tell them she had gone. They spent the next 20 minutes trying to bring her back, it seemed like hours ! Then still trying to resuscitate her they put her in the ambulance. I went with her and Dad followed it the car. They must have thought I was insane as all I kept saying was why are they doing that she's dead, repeating for most of the 15 mile journey !
She died that day in the middle of September aged just 58 and life would never be the same again !
To find out how I managed to compose myself to read a poem at her funeral in front of over 250 people read my other blog 'weird and wonderful life'.
By November it was time to start planning our future, Dad was coping well. I had cleared Mums things and sorted out the loft at my Parents house. So we put the house back on the market, however in those long months the housing Market had started to crash, so we now were putting it on at a lower price.
With my Dad we all got on a plane to start house hunting. Nothing had started at the Mill so Barry hadn't lost out on any work.
My beautiful mum, with one of her oldest friends on our wedding day.
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Published at 11:41 AM Comments (4)
Photos of the Las Menas houses ! They are now here !
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Found these photos and thought you would enjoy them !
Really sorry that you were unable to see them before, I am new to this and could see them staight after I posted, sorry again, enjoy !
 
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Published at 12:01 PM Comments (3)
Seron, what a beautiful town !
Saturday, February 2, 2013
 As we explored Serón we found it to be the most amazing place, narrow streets with old and new buildings mixed with crumbling homes of yester year. The people always ready with a warm smile and the traditional two cheek kiss. As long as you greet them and smile at them, they do not care if you speak Spanish or not, as long as you try. However don't try and they will not bother with you ! They welcome and embrace you into the community with open arms if you make an effort. This my experience, although I do know it is not all the expat here have had this experience !
Seron dates back to prehistoric times with many artefacts found here. In fact a museum is being build and I am told a whole floor will be dedicated to these artefacts.
Seron had a church built in the 1700's which was declared a historic monument in 1983, it is well worth a visit the interior is stunning and it has a calm, tranquil air about it.
Seron also has a castle dating from 800's however now all that remains is the outer wall and bell tower, the town have used the space to create an ampi theatre, where during some fiestas concerts and shows take place. It is worth the walk up to the Castle because the views are breathtaking !
Seron is most famous for its Jamón ( cured ham) the first factory arriving in Serón in the 1800's. Yet there are no pig farms here the pigs are all brought from other places. Seron has the perfect climate for curing the Jamón and is thought to be the best in the World.
I have attached a link for what is in our opinion the best, Pene Cruz, so if you would like to find out more or buy some take a look !
Seron has a main town square along with a number of smaller squares doted around the village. The main square sits in front of the Town Hall, when we first arrived in Serón it had a small very Spanish bar next to it called 'Casa Blanca' because it was all white !
Now however it has been replaced by a very modern and large Town bar and restaurant, at the time of writing it is unfortunately not open, however I am sure that it will reopen in the near future.
Above the New Bar is a theatre, computer suite ( with free access and classes for all), community rooms and a well stocked Library ( which they are hoping to extend).
The square is walled which offers much needed seating during Fiestas the biggest being the Feria del Jamón (the Jamon show) which brings people from all over Spain, this year it is on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th July. Also the week long Fiesta from the 14th- 17th August where the population of Serón more than doubles every year.
The square also has a children's park and is decorated with trees, water fountain and benches.
The views are stunning, looking over the school (under construction at this time) to the mountains 10 km's in the distance, on the other side over the turning circle and car parking area to the mountain road leading up to the old mining town of Las Menas, across Los Filabres mountain range to Almeria.
Las Menas is an amazing place 25 minutes from Serón up the mountain. A huge iron ore mine in its day, it opened in 1870 and closed in 1970. The large community had a square just for musical activities, police station, cinema, bakers, shop, hospital, chemist, school and even hosted Bull fights. Now sadly all that remains is the church, hotel, campsite and the odd holiday home, the rest of the building have fallen into ruins due to the harsh extremes of weather ! The mines once English owned and boast two impressive Gothic mansions from this history, these just about still have their roofs, unlike so many of the other building ! One of these houses was used as offices whilst the other was the management home, I am reliably informed there is direct access to the mine shaft through the basement of one ! I do know that one is for sale for an asking price of around the 500,000 euro mark, so if you have a few Million to spare and would like a really amazing property, let me know I may be able to put you in touch with the right people !
So in a nut shell that is the village and surrounding that I fell in love with !
Whilst we were in Spain on that trip we did go and see Bernard's Mill (where Barry was going to work) it was very clear that although the building itself had potential, the location was not the best for an outdoor activity centre! Also it was clear that to turn it into a workable outdoor activity centre was going to take a lot of time and money. It is located at the bottom of a small valley, with no phone coverage and with no access to hike paths or activity without the use of a car, unlike properties closer to Serón where the mountain is covered in footpaths and opportunities. The Mill is about 20km's away from Seron in the middle of nowhere and now is surrounded by a wind farm boasting about 250 wind mills ! However as he had already brought it, we kept our months shut and if you really want something to work anything is possible !
Bernard had seen,in our view much better properties for less money, we know because we have seen some of them! But he had been guided by Tim who is a surveyor turned builder, who was going to do all the work !
We kept our opinions to ourselves and Tim offered Barry the labouring work on the project, in a few months time, when they would have all the permissions in and could get started, we were on our way ! A job in a year or so and until then labouring work which would keep us ticking over, whilst we built our new life.
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The decision !
Friday, February 1, 2013
So the decision was made to leave England, but where do we move to ?
As a child I had many holidays in Mojacar, it was different from how it is now ! The road from Almeria airport was a narrow costal mountain track, in many places hardly wide enough for the coach let alone passing cars ! The journey was made even more hair raising by the cars at the bottom of the precipice!
But once we had arrived we would spend time by the pool, reading playing, walking into the Pueblo (you could in those days as no cars or road !).
The Playa had hardly anything apart from the hotel Indalo and one or two restaurants ! The promenade was being build the last time we hoildayed here ! It is unrecognisable today, although still holds a very special place in my heart !
Then Barry (my husband) remembered a friend he had known for 25 years had moved to Spain and was renting out apartments, depending where they were, we could maybe check out Mojacar and stay there !
When we looked at the map we found that they where just over an hours drive from Mojacar, perfect! We were now getting excited this seemed to be a positive sign, so we booked to go and see what the area had to offer !
Things seemed to get better and better, when another friend Bernard told Barry about the Mill he had to renovate and how he was going to turn it into an outdoor activity centre ! Would Barry like to manage it for him when it was finished, YES, our prayers had been answered !
Full of excitement the four of us boarded a plane to Granada, the heat hit us as we left the plane, July in Spain is so lovely and warm !
The views on the drive where spectacular, until that is we got to a town called Baza, then my heart sank ! It was like an industrial estate, I knew we where close to Serón but how close I had no idea, was it going to be like this in Serón ?
Thankfully no ! We also now know that Baza is a very beautiful, culture filled town, which has an industrial estate on the outskirts !
As we drove pass Baza the landscape became very flat, strangely flat, an odd building here and there. Then the mountains start to appear on the right hand side, like out of nowhere, stunning. We drove through a small strange village which seemed to be cut into two by the road. Turning off towards Serón and there it was the picturesque white washed village resting quietly in the hills. Wow, I was in love !
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