For a number of years around 2018 – 2012 I conributed paid for columns to a number of the English Speaking Newspapers here in Spain: The Reader, The Sol Times, The Round Town News and The Euro Weekly News to name but four!
Reading through my notes for these columns, I was taken by a) how relevant many of them still are today, and b) I had no online record of them of my own.
So I have added the original submissions to this blog, so if you want to read them just search for expatarticles.
There are a LOT and I have no record of which were submitted to which paper so I have grouped them together into a series of short essays!
Room 101 Spain: Royal Pictures
Sat in the UK it is hard to avoid all the debate about ‘those’ photographs of a topless Kate. Having driven up through France and had the chance to give the Royal Assets a once over there isn’t much to get excited about whichever way you look at it, or them!
There is much debate about invasion of privacy, lack of respect, and not at all surprisingly comparisons with Diana and the role the Paparazzi played in her death.
Of course nobody mentions that in all probability Diana would still be alive today if she had been wearing a seat belt.
Similarly no mention is being made about how Kate, and previously Harry, had put themselves at risk, exposing themselves in more sense than one, in public. If you can shoot someone with a camera you can shoot them. Not quite sure what the Royal Protection Officers were doing in both cases, but doing their job does not appear to have been one of them.
Nor is anyone picking up on the irony that post Diana the Royal Family we are told decided that they needed to get closer to their public, to become less stuffy, to let it all hang out, to drop their guard/trousers/bikini top.
If the last two episodes have proven one thing it is that they have achieved that admirably, and for that they should be applauded.
So Kate went topless, so what. Surely we would be more concerned if she were wearing a one piece as her Victorian predecessors did?
I can only find fault with the Royals on two fronts: that they have put themselves at risk and that they have reverted to type with their stuffy response to the photos. In both cases they should have just shrugged their shoulders and reminded us that these are youngsters, enjoying life, bringing a lot of enjoyment to others, and the fact that they are doing no more than the general public should be applauded.
Should the papers and magazines have printed them? No. Not because they were disrespectful or similar but purely and simply because they were totally and utterly boring stories.
Room 101 Spain: August
Traditionally I have nothing against August, sandwiched between my birthday and Sands birthday it has for many a year been a month for both reflection and anticipation. And who can forget the Augusts of childhood with a whole month of school with the sun shining and playing outdoors all day.
It is only in recent years, living in Spain, that I have become frustrated with August. I don’t have an issue with the heat as by following the lead set by the Spanish it is easy to avoid the hotter parts of the day.
No what I have become frustrated with is what it has become to represent: the summer.
It seems now more than ever that the summer boils down to one month when the majority of Spain shuts down (I am still waiting for a delivery of an order placed on August 6th), and those that can afford it decamp to the beach on holiday.
Industry grinds to a halt with nobody to oil the wheels and the service industry grinds to a halt because it can’t cope.
Beers go warm while you wait for the tapas, dinners go cold while you wait for your partners meal to arrive.
Parking spaces are fought over, and visits to the supermarket require military style planning.
It isn’t all bad I agree. Seasonal bars open up, old friends returning year after year, and cash strapped town halls dig deep to find various forms of entertainment.
And then ….. it is all over. I swear my August consisted of a wait in the Mercadona car park, queuing in the Mercadona and then a drive round the marina to find a parking space. By the time I had ordered a beer the summer was over and not a tapas in site.
But of course the summer isn’t really over. September is one of the best months to be in Spain but nobody seems to know that. The days are still hot but the evenings cooler and normal services are resumed. Maybe I should keep it to myself and not tell anyone?
I will whisper it then: Room 101 Spain this month is August
Room 101 Spain: forest fires
I have been a lot closer to the forest fires of Spain this summer, both physically and emotionally, and to see them blazing in the distance, to drive through the devastation and to see the dramatic pictures on Facebook just reinforces the need to be extra vigilant, and for the authorities to crack down strongly on those found to be at the cause of these fires.
The figures speak for themselves and show the summer of 2012 as one of the most tragic of the last decade, leaving ten people dead, 153,000 hectares burned and untold environmental damage.
The 153,000 hectares of forest which has been damaged is three times as much as occurred during the same period in 2011. While we are all aware of the high profile fires in Girona, Bedar and Marbella, for example, in the period from January 1st to August 26th there have been 12,000 fires reported, compared to 10,518 in 2011.
This year though the big difference has been in the number of large fires, defined as those affecting more that 500 hectares
In 2011 there were six such incidents. In 2012 thfee have been 31 ….. so far!
There were the fires in Cortes de Pallás and Andilla, in Valencia, which destroyed 50,000 hectares and took the lives of a firefighter and a pilot. These fires were started intentionally and three people have been arrested.
In Girona, four French nationals lost their lives in fires that destroyed 14,000 hectares of land. I have driven past this devastation several times and the area is immense and unbelievably close to roads, homes and businesses.
In La Gomera, a quarter of the population had to leave their homes and roughly 11% of the land area was destroyed by fire.
Only this last week we had the fire in Málaga which has destroyed 1,000 hectares and claimed the life of one person, caused 6,500 people to be evacuated from their homes and destroyed many animal rescue centres, resulting in tragic deaths and suffering. And let’s not forget all the wildlife and strays killed in all of these fires.
Driving back from the UK last weekend we passed a convoy of firefighters heading back towards Valencia from Malaga, and it was good to see so many cars honking in appreciation. In the UK the Malaga was a ‘hot’ topic of conversation with everyone we met, with all interested for any first hand details of what most fortunately only ever see on TV. My first awareness of the Malaga fire came in via text from a friend who was evacuated. We were driving to the UK at the time and had a feeling of helplessness and pride as messages came through from friends ignoring Guardia warnings and returning to homes and friends homes to rescue animals.
So no question this week. The imbeciles that cause these forest fires are in my Room 101 Spain.
Room 101 Spain: Tunnel Speed Limits
Driving over 100,000km a year I spend as much time on the roads of Spain as pretty much any other expat living in Spain. I am a huge fan of the Spanish roads. And with the usual ‘touch wood’ caveat, road works are a rarity as are traffic delays and diversions. The 120km/ph speed limit is in reality for most 130km and the government are in all probability going to concede this and increase it.
Considering they are primarily two lanes these roads put the UK motorways to shame, not least because Spanish drivers know how to use the lanes correctly. The service stations are refreshingly consistent and not stuffed full of franchised outlets, and it is rare to be driving through adverse conditions weather wise for any length of time in Spain.
All pretty perfect then, and were it not for one idiotic system I wouldn’t be writing about them today as far as Room 101 Spain is concerned.
That system is the somewhat bizarre approach to speed limits driving through tunnels. I can just about see the rational for reducing the speed allowed as you drive through a tunnel, although there is an argument that as they are protected from the elements and well lit they are safer than the normal roads which are subject to the elements.
But avoiding that argument for another day what I think is madness is the fact that they reduce the speed limit so close to the actual tunnels. One minute you are driving at 120km/ph in bright sunshine with your sun glasses on and the next …… they expect you to slam on the brakes to 80km, turn on your lights, for many take off your sunglasses and at the same time hope that the person behind you is doing exactly the same and not about to rear end you.
You have no choice other than this drastic almost immediate braking as with many of the tunnels they have placed the speed cameras pretty much at the entrance while at the same time doing all they can to catch you by placing fixed speed limit signs saying 100km/ph as you approach and then an electronic one pretty much at the entrance saying 80km/ph.
So you have two choices. Brake gradually and hope that the person in front hasn’t slammed on their brakes, or slam on your brakes and the hope the person behind has done the same.
Logic would say they should provide more notice and be consistent with the allowed speed limit through the tunnels but logic doesn’t get you into Room 101 Spain!
Room 101 Spain: Starting Cannons
Woken a couple of times this week by the ‘boom’ as the starting cannon went off to signal the start of yet another round of golf, or other sporting event.
Almerimar is a pretty small place and pretty much every man, dog and cat can hear the cannon when it goes off. I know that because pretty much every dog in Almerimar starts barking and if our cats are any guide the cat population jump a mile in the air and then head for cover.
As for us mere humans it can be a shock I tell you on a Sunday morning and if it hasn’t already it won’t be long before it accounts for some poor old expats life, not least amongst the golfers looking a number of them!
Over a matter of days here in Almerimar they have used the cannon to start the annual José López Memorial golf tournament, the Almerian Alpujarra cycle race, and the BSM golf competition.
And what is the point? For the few that participate in these events it might be fun, but they are in the significant minority compared to the residents and tourists trying to sleep. Do the rest of us really need to know that you have started to do something?
As for the golf. How hard can it be to send a group of adults out onto a course to their designated hole with the instruction to tee off at, for example, 6.50am? I mean if they can’t be trusted to do that how can they be trusted to mark their card properly, replace divots, repair pitch marks, not cheat …..
It is called a shotgun start from back in the days before time (well watches) were commonly worn I assume, and certainly before walkie talkies and mobile phones made it easy to relay messages. The golfers were dispatched to one of the 18 holes to await the starting gun, the shotgun indicating that they could all give their balls a good whack. So if they are going to persist with this shotgun start I reckon they should bring back the shotgun and use it ….. to speed up slow players, remove those incapable of looking after the course as they hack around, to bring to an end boring acceptance speeches as someone waxes lyrical about their nears the hedge on the 4th hole prize.
So sorry, boring old grumpy sod that I may sound I am sticking starting cannons in Room 101 Spain this week.
Room 101 Spain: increased prices
No surprise that the Spanish are taking less holidays this year, or ,re accurately are spending less on their holidays with many forced to stay at home due to the ongoing financial crisis and those that are on holiday are spending less. On the other hand must confess to being surprised that foreign tourism is up this year thanks to the Brits, Germans and Swedes, and they are spending more than last year.
I suspect that what that really means is that they are paying more and getting less if they are spending their hard earned in the Spanish businesses.
Yes this weeks Room 101 Spain is dedicated to all those Spaniards who believe that the way to solve their financial shortfall is to charge those that have money more for the privilege of getting less!
While many an expat business has gone down the English route of keep it cheap, give them loads the Spanish continue to do the opposite and while I may not agree totally with the English route (going to be tough for them to increase prices in future for example) I think the Spanish are mad.
Take for example golf.
Room 101 Spain: the best in …
I really really wish English businesses would stop marketing themselves as the ‘best in …….’
Let’s be awkward for a moment. How can you prove it? There is no means of measuring how many people listen to a radio station in Spain, and while some may be able to track the number of visitors to their online offering, do they actually, honestly, know that people are listening. As for being ‘best’, who has told then that? Have you ever been asked? Would you tell them the truth? Have any of them published statistically viable research?
I am not picking on the radio station. The free newspapers, including this one, struggle to provide meaningful circulation figures. Sure they can tell you how many they print but it stops there. Being honest they can’t guarantee that they are all delivered every week, and they certainly don’t keep track of how many are discarded each week: used to light fires I understand is the most popular. One proprietor once told me that they used the same ‘eyeball’ measure as the Metro paper in London which is somewhat absurd. The Metro is handed out free and each paper probably is read 6- 8 times as they are left on the tubes and picked up by pretty much everyone that come across one. I have seen more than enough walk past piles of the freebies to know that they aren’t picked up at the same rate.
Nor am I picking on the media. If I had a € for every time I had read that a restaurant offered the ‘best fish and chips’ I would have enough to ….. well in all honesty to fly back home and eat the real thing whenever I fancied a portion! I mean who has actually told them that they are the best? I am discounting the response after a few beers to the imposing owner with that dreaded closed the question “You haven’t had better have you?” No, show me your research, the unsolicited customer feedback, the reviews left pom sites. Please though not ‘on for two’ but a statistical viable quantity, lets say 50 more than your nearest competitor.
And the irony? I don’t think any of us care! Not only don’t we believe you, but we don’t expect you to be the best. This is Spain, in a recession, with everybody living on a budget, and bars and restaurants forced continuously to offer more and more for less and less. Seriously ‘best’ doesn’t come into it!
Good enough and popular is what I reckon counts. Convince me that what you are offering is good enough for the price and I won’t be alone if I pop in to eat in and I reckon that will do for me.
So Room 101 Spain this week …… and English business that claims to be the ‘best in….’
Room 101 Spain: talk of stopping the siesta
I reckon that until you have cracked the siesta in Spain you can’t call yourself a true expat, which by my calculation means that the vast amount of ‘expats’ in Spain still have some serious training to do!
It seems a little churlish to be talking about training when the athletes over in the UK are putting in such a tremendous effort, and dare I say putting many of the higher paid sports ‘stars’ to shame. For what it’s worth my view on the Olympics is very simple: unless the gold medal is the pinnacle of your profession the event doesn’t deserve to be in the Olympics which would make a pretty crowded Room 101 Olympics: tennis, basketball, football to start, and I am sorry but BMX an Olympics event? What next, wearing your trousers with the waistband round your knees!
It is enough to make an old chap need a lie down in a cool dark room, which brings me nicely back to the siesta.
A friend from the UK was recently staying in Almerimar and called one day to ask if I wanted to meet up for a drink: sure I said. 6pm he said. Hmmm I said. 7pm he said. Hmmm I said. Well what time he said? How about 10pm I said! What??? he exclaimed.
Well I won’t be awake from my siesta by 6pm and at 7pm I will be doing a bit of writing. I will eat at 9pm so by 10pm it will be cool enough and I will be ready for a drink. Bit late he said. Call it a night cap then I said!
We did meet up: hot chocolate for him, red wine for me and he opened the conversation saying that he thought they were going to ban the siesta and a good thing that would be too. Was a ‘typically lazy’ Spanish thing, out dated, and disadvantaged Spain on the world market, what with being asleep for a couple of hours each day.
I will summarise my response for brevity:
1. The siesta is far from a ‘lazy Spanish’ thing. Originally created to provide a break for Spaniards working two jobs, the average hours worked in Spain are still amongst the highest in Europe.
2. I had the ‘disadvantaged’ argument years ago with someone that had been working in Dubai. They though that the siestas took Spain out of the world market for a couple of hours and completely missed the irony that the country they were promoting (Dubai) has a Friday and Saturday weekend so missing two days of the world market AND that Spain by working into the evening post Siesta was in fact ‘open for business’ on the world market like America far longer than the UK.
3. Outdated: well if the sun is outdated then I agree but for as long as the sun beats down on Spain the siesta will always not only be a good idea, but a necessity.
The siesta isn’t about going to bed for a couple of hours sleep. It is about taking a break, a reset of brain and body post lunch and pre dinner. A couple hours on the sofa, grabbing some winter sun, or cooling down in the air conditioning in summer it is as much a part of Spain and living in Spain as Rioja, Paella, Manchego Cheese.
And that is my point. To dismiss the siesta, to not set your body clock to include a siesta is to be permanently battling against he flow and heart beat of Spain. To many times I have been told it was ‘really quiet’ last night, when in fact it was buzzing down the Spanish bars at 2am, or that classic excuse “well I would go but why do they start everything so late” ….
So this weeks Room 101 Spain is reserved for all that talk about doing away with the siesta!
Room 101 Spain: Reluctant Landlords
Spent some time in the neighbouring Costas recently and must say I was struck by just how many reluctant landlords I met in the English Bars. Should say here that I was doing some work for a UK based media organisation, so not on a huge pub crawl, and not going to mention any names or specifics.
Running a bar is tough. Many of us have no doubt worked behind a bar at some stage in our lives. I spent four university years running the local university bars during the holiday periods for SAGA, the Open University and other groups. It was hard work, but we had a lot of customers which believe me is better than none! Behind a bar time certainly drags if you are quiet.
It is fair to say that in the years since I have spent my fair share of time and money on the other side of the bar, and like many I am not short of an opinion or two as to how bars should be run.
I know, it’s not my money, you should put your money where your mouth is, it’s easy to crticise when it’s not your investment etc etc.
All valid points in general, but arguably not when it comes to bars. Let me explain!
It is my money …… that you want me to spend. I will be putting my money where my mouth is …….. if I consume what you have on offer. It is my investment ….. it is my time, my most precious commodity, that you want me to invest.
I will throw an argument back: don’t dish out what you can’t take! Nothing is worse than the know it all landlord that sees the bar as a pulpit to dish out advice on how you should run your business.
Ah, but I lie. There is something worse and it is a growing trend if my recent experiences are anything to go by: the reluctant landlord who doesn’t want to be a landlord.
And here we have common ground. If you don’t want to be a landlord then I don’t want you to be one either. It may come as a shock to you landlords, and I was truly amazed how many expat landlords had no experience of running a bar before they moved to Spain, but we don’t go to bars to be told how crap your life is, how the Spanish are victimising you over taxes, licenses and the such. We got to bars to escape these realities. Simple fact is that whatever you are selling me I can get cheaper and consume at home.
Harsh as it may sound I am not interested in your woes when I go out for a drink. What most amazed me was that I was ‘fresh meat’, a potential tourist, someone that could well return again, with friends, with family yet again and again I was hounded out of bars by a torrent of negativity and moaning.
So Room 101 Spain it is for the reluctant landlord to provide more customers for those that want to be a landlord, and to ensure we customers don’t resent spending our hard earned cash.
Room 101 Spain: Bored Expats
I am in serious danger of sticking myself in Room 101 Spain (I know not a bad idea!) because I am becoming increasingly bored with expats that say they are bored. By definition that would make me a bored expat and off to Room 101 Spain so I will grant myself an amnesty for the length of this column!
Years ago my father said to me that you can’t be bored if you are doing something that you want to do. Actually if I recall correctly he didn’t say it to me, he said it to someone that had asked me what I did all day and didn’t I get bored, shortly after we had based ourselves here in Spain. I agreed with him then, and I agree with him now, and therefore I am at somewhat of a loss when expats that have chosen to come and live in Spain say they are bored?
Most common complaint is that there is nothing to do. Sure, once you have learnt the language, experienced the culture, studied the history and travelled around this amazing country there is very little left to do: other than sit and enjoy the company of your new Spanish friends, joining in the heated debates about the politics, the history and the uncertain future of the country. I guess that could get boring but I wouldn’t be too concerned. By the time most of us have become proficient with the language, studied and understood the complex history of the country we would be pretty close to pushing up the daises anyway, so to spend your last few years sampling the great Spanish wines, understanding the different types on jamon’s and queso and just sitting and watching the world spiral out of control shouldn’t be too boring.
Second most common complaint would probably be that there isn’t enough to do to attract the tourists, that they will be bored. Well yes, if they are looking for the theme parks of America for example they will without doubt be bored …. and stupid! If you want the theme parks go to America as nobody does them better. If you come to Spain on holiday take a look at the Spanish and what they want from their holidays: a beach, food, drink, company. They go on holiday to relax, not as an extension of their normal life. No Notebooks, Game Boys, WiFi for them. A long relaxing day on the beach, in and out of the sea, a long lunch in a chiranguito or from the cool box and portable BBQ. Back to the hotel or apartment to freshen up, have a kip and then a late meal with good food and favourite wines. Sounds pretty relaxing, stress free and far from boring to me.
Third most heard complaint? There is nothing new to do! Seriously who do you think is responsible for your entertainment, your stimuli in life, for keeping your brain ticking over. Certainly not the English bars who as a rule set up to serve a tourist trade that they have seen diminish year on year not a local expat trade who, with the greatest respect and acceptance that this is a generalisation, just don’t have the spending power of the tourist. Nor is it the fault of the entertainers who set up to serve the same market as the bars. I suspect they are as bored seeing the same old glum faces week in and week out as you are watching them, but they have a living to make, and you have the choice to go and watch or try something new.
Here’s a thought for anyone that is bored. Foster a cat or dog! We currently have a four week old kitten that was found tied up and abandoned at a market in Murcia. We have been bottle feeding it kitten formulae, and sitting with him on our knees for hours. Watching him gain strength, to start to explore, to find his little paws in this world is far from boring. It is fascinating, rewarding and each day brings a different experience and provides new conversations. Costs less per day than a couple of hours in the pub, is better entertainment than the majority of the rubbish on TV, and is something that you can do for the rest of your natural.
Room 101 Spain: Tribute Bands
I am not a huge music fan but over the years have seen some memorable artists: Bruce Springsteen, U2, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead stand out in my mind for varying reasons.
Also worth a mention, Robbie Williams, Diana Ross, Meatloaf, Cher, Eminem, The Beastie Boys, Tina Turner and even Cliff Richard.
All originals, all ‘the real deal, and not a tribute band amongst them.
At college in the 80’s the up and coming bands doing the rounds of the Student Unions and the pubs of Coventry included The Jam, The Police and The Smiths. All genuine, all hungry and all unique. A number of cover songs for sure to get the crowd going, but in general all their own material.
It is with a cocktail of despair and depression that I observe the growing trend for Tribute Bands up and down the coast. As a generalisation I tend to think that us Brits spend far too long harbouring after, and trying to replicate, the England we left behind, and I just see attending a Tribute Concert as exemplifying so much that, in my view, is wrong.
I mean in what way are they a tribute? From the above list: Springsteen at Wembley Stadium, Williams at Phoenix Park, Dublin, Marley at Lake Calhoun, Beach Boys at the Metrodome all classic bands in Classic venues. You could even include The Rolling Stones in El Ejido!
So how is an overweight guy, in a undersized lycra Elvis costume and wig, belting out the Kings classics to a backing track in a beach hut flogging cheap beer and free hot dogs a tribute? Taking the P*** seems a more apt description!
Now before you start I don’t blame the bands! How someone earns their living is their business. The argument that they are pretending to be someone else, to live on reflective glory, to pretend to be something they aren’t isn’t new: how else would you describe actors for example?
No the thing that makes me consign Tribute Bands to Room 101 Spain is the sheer waste of time on looking backwards. I would have loved to see Buddy Holly, The Beatles and Elvis. But I didn’t and I can live with that. Records, CD’s, digital downloads and old movie and TV footage show me what I missed.
To me an evening at a Tribute Band would be so unbelievably sad. I don’t doubt that many enjoy their evening of nostalgia, of looking back on good times, but really what is the point of looking back? Why come to Spain to focus on what you have had already? Where is the looking forward, the exploring of Spanish Cultures and opportunities!
Harsh it may be, unpopular I am sure it will be (well maybe not The Carpenters!), but for me the Tribute Band just has to go into Room 101 Spain.
Room 101 Spain: Animal Cruelty
Last week Pippa Jones interviewed the actor Peter Egan (Ever Decreasing Circles) on her iTalk FM Magazine show, where he explained how he was devoting the rest of his life to campaign against cruelty to animals, especially dogs.
He talked eloquently and knowledgeably on the subject, including the plight of the Spanish Galgo hunting dogs: 50,000 destroyed each year often by hanging them with just their rear legs touching the ground – they “dance” to stay alive until fatigued they succumb to their plight. Extremely brave of these robust galguero men NOT!
He questioned the need and relevance of bullfighting in today’s society, especially poignant at this time of year with the annual Running With The Bulls in Pamplona. On that subject GREAT to see so many humans being injured although if they really wanted to make it interesting why not set the bulls off at both ends of the street running towards each other. Let the human idiots experience the fear, panic and sheer helplessness of their situation before a painful and totally unnecessary demise!
Or maybe we should pick a few humans at random, that have done nothing wrong at all, and stake them out in the sun with no food and water for three days until they convulse and have to be put to sleep. And while we are at it, we will video their suffering! I kid you not. That was just one of literally hundreds of horrific videos on Facebook last week.
Also this week we had Jamie Oliver’ 2010 programme repeated yet again where he is perceived to be approving of bullfighting and endorsing the galgueros. He has issued a defensive denial, but failed to take the opportunity to distance himself, and in so doing has wasted an opportunity to reinforce the plight of these animals. Seems he is man enough to take on the wimpish MP’s over school dinners, but put him up against some real man and it is very much a case of no tener cojoners.
Frustratingly there is potentially a relatively achievable and simple solution: the EU. Spain needs a bailout so why doesn’t the EU make it a condition of the loan? Ban bullfighting (after all the EU has effectively banned smoking), ban ‘leisure’ hunting, make it mandatory that animals must be registered, passported, neuted when not officially breeding animals, introduce and enforce laws against cruelty and abuse, introduce licenses to own pets etc.
What does Spain want more? Solvency and a future, or to hold onto these outdated, barbaric and uneccesary ‘cultures’?
Room 101 Spain: Part Time Expats
o use a smoking analogy: this column is being written by a former smoker and for some should carry a health warning against getting a little hot under the collar.
For many of you I suspect you may think I am writing about you and take offence, but as I don’t know you I obviously aren’t, and if you make it to the end of the column you will see it is the minority that I would like to put into my Room 101 Spain.
In my experience part time expats fall into two categories: those that split their time between two homes in two countries, either retired and able to afford their dual lifestyle, or still working in the UK but fortunate enough (when they can get a flight) to visit their second property abroad on a regular basis. Well rounded individuals they bring much needed cash to their local businesses, often spending more I suspect a year than many full time expats living in Spain on a budget, throw themselves willingly into supporting their local community, and make huge efforts to integrate and “go with the flow”.
Personally I think this last point is crucial.
As a former part time expat at one time we were spending our time equally between the UK, USA and Spain and felt very much that the onus was on us to make the effort to keep in touch, to fit in wherever we went. After all it was our decision to not to be in one place all the time so why should we expect the ‘full timers’ to change their schedules and patterns of behaviour for us.
I can’t say that we always succeeded and the temptation will always exist for many a part time expat to ‘play it large’, to ‘flash the cash’, to enjoy spending their hard earned. If that means they have more to spend than full timers then so be it, each chose their respective lifestyles and the resultant budgets, and remember: irritating or frustrating as it may seem to see people turning up and spending, the bars and restaurants need it, and as full timers need the bars and restaurants all year round just grin and bear it!
This is actually my approach to tourists. I hate it when our part of this lovely country gets busy with tourists, but rather than battle my way through the hordes that have suddenly infiltrated ‘my bars’, I hibernate! You have more chance of seeing Lord Lucan out and about during the day in the tourist season than you have me, although I do venture out at night along with the Spanish.
But I digress! The above part time expats I have no issue with, indeed we need more of them. No the part time expats that I would stick in my Room 101 are those that come over and take over. No graceful and dignified arrival either: weeks of advanced notice on Facebook and Twitter of when they will arrive, where they will be drinking, what parties must be organised. Now I know what you thinking at this stage: why befriend them on these social media sites if you don’t like them? Well forewarned is forearmed and it pays dividends to know in advance which bars to avoid!
You see I have no desire to listen to how great your ‘other life’ is, and how it is so much better than here in Spain. I don’t need telling how you would improve where I live, what would make it better, how you couldn’t live here full time (although I agree with you on that point as someone would have to be paid to make you dissapear!). Who are you to criticise those that live here full time for the way they run their lives, the interests they have, the places they want to go.
The minority for sure, but unfortunately not the silent majority, I would happily consign them to my Room 101 Spain.