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 .....