19 Oct 2009 5:18 PM:

Hi to all,

Thanks for all the comments!! Even the negative ones!!

Just to add that when I lived in Ibiza I always found the locals very kind (if you make an effort to speak some form of Spanish, it was welcomed!!)

Negative.........you bet!!!

They still dig up the roads here too!! I have never understood why they do not complete one side of a main road, then work on the other? So you have a very busy road with temp traffic lights at the top of a hill, temp ones on the other side at the bottom, the static lights in the middle...result..........nothing moves!!! a 20 min bus journey takes 1hr 30!!!

You take a train to London Bridge...........only to be told half way that the train is now diverting to Victoria!!!!  I often had to call TFL to get confirmation as the boss used to say that was no excuse for being late!!

The postal service is in chaos......no mail for a week........then two weeks worth in one delivery..........thats not to say that the utility companies take note......they still send out threatening letters although you have just received the bill!!!

Most lines on the tube network can be closed (at intervals) at the weekends (over running works!) so its tube, bus, back on tube!

What chaos will the olympics be....London is the only capital I have ever been to that has a very very poor transport system (I have been to 32 different coutries) the most embarressing thing? Meeting tourist's from all around the world in London who ask? Why does your capital not have any public toilets that work? How do we purchase a ticket for a bus when the ticket machine is broken at the bus stop? £9.50 for fish and chips? £3.55 a pint? £2.40 a cup of coffee? The reward.......grey skies and lots of rain!!

I am still a great beliver that sunshine, decent people, relative security (man kicked to death in Trafalgar Square at 10pm!!! last week) is not too much to ask for? Quality of life is worth some sacrifice!!

Viva Espana!!! 

Thread: Is living in Spain really that bad now???

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07 Oct 2009 6:58 PM:

Thanks Guys and Gals!

Its appreciated!!!

Viva Espana!!

 

Ferg

Thread: Is living in Spain really that bad now???

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07 Oct 2009 12:00 AM:

Hi to all,

My first posting on EOS.

I lived and worked in Ibiza for the best part of four years and hope to relocate to Spain in the not too distant future.

I seem to hear nothing but bad news about how Spain has changed, How 1000's are looking to sell up and return to the UK, is it really that bad now? I ask as I would like to know the feeling that you have, from ground level, so to speak.

Ok, I know the Euro has made life difficult, and ney on impossible for people who survived on a pension from the UK, but what about the quality of life you have? The stabbings and shootings over here (I live in South East London, by the way) are now on a daily basis, I dare not go out at night to see a film or a play as the amount of danger and abuse you get on the way home is just not worth it (its a disease that effects all the UK now, even the countryside!! As I am sure you are all aware). Most of the local incidents don't make it to the papers, its all word of mouth now (think the papers do not have the room to report it all anymore, and people have just become immune to it anyway) 

I know Spain has its fair share of crime, but the Guardia Civil do appear on the streets now and again, don't they?

The police here are scared to get out of thier cars, its pretty lawless after 9pm.....gangs of youths (20+) hover around, boys and girls on station platforms, no staff, poor lighting..............its not much fun and I know lots of people who have become hermits,like me, its safer!!!

I have lived all over London, its the same where ever you try to stay, and on top of that the going rate for a small one bedroom flat to rent with all bills taken into account is £1100 per month!! That leaves nothing to socialise with anyway!

With the comming elections, all the partys are going to cut back on all services!! They even admit to that now, so its going to get very very hard to stay here or want to in the feature!!!

 

So please, any good news you can offer would be a lift!!! for my future dreams!!

Thank you,

 

Fergus. 

Thread: Is living in Spain really that bad now???

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