Hi, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rachel Corbally and at the age of 39 & a bit (the bit’s my own business!) I have decided with my partner and my daughter to make the move to Spain.

Now, this was prompted by many things, such as the ongoing desire to live somewhere warmer than Ireland, & also because my father has a place in Playa Flamenca so it seemed like the obvious choice.

But where do I start? Well last year was a bad one in a big way! We tried to sell our house but failed to do so, so we sat and wondered what we would do.

Then on the 23rd of September fate stepped in and trod all over us like a huge mucky Doc Martin on a nice white rug!!

We got word that my partner’s parents had been in a motorbike accident in Italy. My future father in law was dead and my mum in law seriously injured in intensive care.  The next few months went slowly! Like a bizzare slow motion playback.

We had to travel to Italy to be with my mother- in-law. As I spoke Italian it came in incredibly useful when dealing with Italian police and doctors.  We got her home and we buried my father-in-law in November. We rented out the house in Ireland and moved all of our possessions within a week.  My feet didn’t touch the ground!

As Christmas approached and my daughter was coming to visit, decisions needed to be made. I missed my daughter so much and to be honest.  I didn’t like living in the UK, no offence meant, it just wasn’t for me. But what was more interesting was that my partner, who is Kent born and bred, didn’t like it either. So we decided to be totally mad irresponsible middle-aged idiots and head to Spain!!

So here I sit in England preparing to go with not much more than the shirt on my back.  I have bought a £400 "looser cruiser" also known as a Renault Scenic (apologies to fellow Scenic owners). It’s taxed and MOT'd and waiting to go. I have sorted my vast wardrobe into three bags of clothes that meet the criteria. They still fit me, they are suitable for warmer climes, and they can roll as small as a Smarties tube, I need all the space in the car I can get!

We are scrounging every cent and penny we can get our hands on. Let’s put it this way, the money won’t be taking up much room at all! We sold the Wii and we have loads of PS2 & 3 games if anyone’s interested...

We have decided to leave on the 1st of February 2010. So here we are leaving a country where we are low paid with a severe lack of jobs to go to a country that’s low paid with a severe lack of jobs!  Full frontal lobotomy anyone!?? Oh yes please me!!!

So for all of you out there who are safe and warm in your armchairs after a nice hard day at work, I am writing this so you can experience the madness of what we are doing, but be safe in the knowledge that you don’t have to do it.

My dad has given us a loan of his house on the Costa Blanca La Zenia to be precise.  One month rent free GULP! Our aim is to get jobs, I am TEFL qualified and have four years teaching in a Pre-school, I also have fifteen years experience in property and construction, and the other half is a qualified electrician and is also an Electrical Engineer.

So here we go full of hope ignoring all the naysayers "Jesus your *#€@" mad and thankful for our ever optimistic (or foolish) friends urging us on with crap like "live the dream", "go for it" and "you will never know if you don’t try".  We are thankful though for these wonderful friends and keep them dear to us, especially as they may have to send us petrol money for the long drive to the Ferry home to Ireland!!

Well adios for now my readers I shall keep you updated on our journey regularly

Bye for now