It's been 6 months now  since an Englishman set sail and lived abroad.

If you remember, the house is part of a complex of holiday homes  purpose built in the 80's on waste land. Each Complex, and there are many surround a central swimming pool and garden.

Now it's November and for the first time it's not shorts and maybe a tshirt. It is wearing English clothes. 5 degrees centigrade at night with clear star night and 15  during the day, warm enough to sit out in. Sunny breezy.  The weather change was rapid  about  one week into November from hot to cool. Of course the sun is much lower in the sky and it's dark about 6pm. It has rained a couple of times, though not like the cyclone that hit Sardinia in the Med  and flooded them out  killing many.

That cyclone could have hit anywhere. 100 miles south of here roads were washed away by flash floods  last summer.  When it rains the ground is baked hard, and also many Spaniards tile over their gardens, they don't like gardens, or the outside. They should live in caves.

There are no real seasons here though apart from temperature changes.   You can plant flowers and seeds anytime, they will grow. Of course better when warmer, but no need for a leaf rake, there are very few deciduous trees and bushes. Even the English plants I brought over in the truck are still in leaf.

So still sunny and bright, though need a gas fire on in the evening and can only eat lunch outside now, each day.

So what else to report after 6 months.

Well, just more of the same:

1)  The Spanish men are, short, rude, noisy, uneducated, scruffy in general. No I would not fancy any of them anyway, but I have to admit I hate the hombres.

2)  Their other halves shout to get heard or over heard and use repetitive words , I guess for affect. Cannot say yes , Si, it is "Si, si si si". So  not much time for breathing, but they seem not to die, unfortunately, nor does smoking kill them. The Majority of Spanish men and women smoke and drop their fag ends and empty cigarette boxes in the street, alongwith drinks containers.

3) The Spanish don't care about anything or anyone except themselves. Anti social behaviour is here in Spain as well as in England. They have no concerns for the environment, animals, each other. They are too lazy  to do most everyday things. They are litter louts, don't recycle, even though the authorities provide the means. They are awful drivers, Matadors behind the steering wheel. I don't know what on earth they learn in school or for that matter in a driving school  car. The end result  is they do not indicate. On a roundabout for instance, they will hold the inside lane and go all the way round to get to their exit, not indicating and holding that inside lane.  But still they don't kill each other enough, though their are many cars with dents.

4) Noisy  (Ruidoso)  They know where the horn is though, drive with mobile phones, fags, and Spanish bongo drum disco music emanating from their open car windows.  So no consideration there. Same at Zebra Crossings, Spanish  accelerate at those. They too can't send kids walking to school, they have to go by car. Also they cannot park a car, double park, across entrances, on zebra crossings. They would be better off riding a donkey.

5) However find a park sit  in relative peace and quiet see the turquoise sea and the mountains that surround here. See the salt lakes, they are pink, like the Pink Flamingos that inhabit them. Or go to the beach, it's busier, but picturesque. The palm tree lined roads are incredible. Orange, lemons and limes  grow on trees in the main streets. The Northern Europeans all holiday or live here for the sun. The food and drink is cheap too. But some things you cannot get here. Decent medicine, for instance. So driving to England every now and then to see relatives and stock up with the unobtainable  is essential. Most restaurants and bars  have closed for the winter, some only open weekends and lunch times. Weekends  still see Spanish travel here for Friday night Saturday, go back Sunday. But  much quieter and civilised now compared to July and August when the riff raff are here in force and numbers.

So on the whole the English Man is content with the better weather. He can survive day to day, without fluent Spanish, after all when the Spanish talk it is similar to gargling or water going down a sink. There are plenty of English speaking people here, in business too, though the Spanish rarely speak a word of English.
It is a learning curve. Like in England the utility companies Water  Electricity try to make everyone poor. There are insufficient individual solar panel  users, even though the sun shines 360 days a year. When the Northern Europeans get ill they go home. But, I don't miss England. I have the internet, English TV, and one can live like this knowing just a few people, as long as they are not Spanish.

Oh btw  dont forget the pesky flies, who are worse the Spanish or the flies ?? close call that one !!!

When in Spain...look out !!!!

Now, as you can see on the map Spain is in Europe and the European Union. Bottom left corner for those that never did Geography at school.
In fact the banks and the government were bailed out of bankruptcy by Brussels, which means mainly IOU's to Germany. So that does not matter, because the Germans can afford it hahahhahahahahha.

Spain's national dish is not a Seniorita, it is Paella.

In Britain, Birds Eye have to call their beef slices "Gravy with Beef Slices"  and show a replica picture on the packet of what is inside. All logical so far then.  Birds Eye and others  tell the truth on their food packs because they would rather sell us water than solids as it is cheaper and more profit for the greedy bosses. They are made to by regulations from Brussels to all members. After all everyone should play by the same rules, then it is free trade and fair competition.  Again all logical.

However it would seem the Spanish do what they like.

A month ago I saw a packet showing a picture of a ham and cheese toasted sandwich. I naturally thought in the sealed foil was a ham and cheese toasted sandwich, just heat and serve.  When I got home, opened it for lunch it was full of individually wrapped thin cheese slices so thin they stuck to the polythene wrapper.  "Worse thing I ever bought" when I showed my sister who was out here recently and who ironically works for Morrison's Supermarkets.

Now last night, once bitten, not shy, bitten again. This time Paella as depicted. The artist impression is complete make believe, made by Frudesa,  the pack contains no rice, yes NO RICE.  In addition the langostines are crustacea only NO Meat.

So the moral of this tale is dont trust packet food in Spain, they are having a laugh. They clearly ignore European Union Consumer Protection legislation and Standards of honesty and fair trade. These packs were sold in major supermarkets.

It is just another example of how the Spaniards don't care about anything except themselves. Sweeping Generalisation, but by 6 months observation , spot on and true. They hate the English and none of the Northern Europeans have a good word to say about them as a nation, rude, noisy, short and ignorant.  5 adjectives  will do for now, else I need a toilet roll to carry on describing them.

Españoles hacen lo que quieren, no se preocupan por nadie más

More Paella anyone?  Oh have I put you off,  look there is plenty left !!! Go on  have a bit more.....................please.....................No Thanks.

Spain's population shrinks as immigrants flee economic crisis
People queue outside a job centre in Madrid. Photo: April 2013
High unemployment levels force many Spaniards and foreign residents to leave the country
Continue reading the main story

Spanish economic decline worsens

Spain's population fell last year for the first time in decades, as immigrants left the country amid a major economic crisis, officials say.

The National Statistic Institute (NSI) says the number of residents dropped by almost 206,000 to 47.1m - the decline entirely accounted for by foreigners.

Immigrants from Ecuador and Colombia showed the biggest fall.

The figures do not take into account many Spaniards who have left in search of work but are still on the census.

'Less attractive'
The statistics agency recorded Spain's first population drop since the regular census began in the 1990s.

Although the number of native Spaniards grew in 2012 by some 10,000 - it only minimally offset the overall fall of nearly 216,000 among registered foreign residents.

The figures show that the ongoing economic crisis has reversed the country's rapid population growth in the decade before the financial crisis erupted in 2008.

The bursting of the property bubble and high unemployment levels compounded the situation, forcing many economic migrants from South America and Eastern Europe to leave the country.

"Spain is less attractive because there are no jobs," Albert Esteve of the Barcelona Centre for Demographic Studies told Spain's National Radio.

27% unemployment, not even siesta cover. under 25's no job no education !!!!!!

Spain’s education system is not widely considered to be among the strongest in the European Union. Under General Franco for 39 years women were not taught to read  or write.

Spain has one of the lowest rates in Europe for children staying in school beyond the age of 16

Nice People...surely Not !!!

I've had Man flu  for the last few days, and as any female would tell you, it is as close to being a zombie  as possible.  Anyway, this Zombie goes into the Farmacia (and dont ask me how anyone can get flu in hot and sunny Spain). The Zombie has not been to the ATM  because he has been a zombie for a few days and the ATMs  charge 5% commission for using a machine instead of a human being who earns wages (presumeably)  if you use a Spanish Bank card. If you use English, no charge. Yes you read it right. In Spain they charge for Spanish cards not English, such is the logic when the sun clearly affects the mentality.

Anyway I digress, and keep saying anyway, so anyway... I did not have enough money for 2 bottles DOS  of cough medicine which I badly needed and had run out of 1 bottle una  in 24 hours  48 hours earlier, and guess what, the cough came back.  No, not an echo,  I started coughing  again. So plan B was to buy 2 bottles, not one, hope you are still with me, and have not nodded off yet. Really we are coming to a conclusion soon, when?? soon !!

Anyway (there is that word again)  I did not have enough money, the Spanish Hombre sales assistant  was not helpful, what Spanish Hombre is polite and helpfull, I have not met Una or Uno  yet.

BUT, wait for it, an English man tourist came up behind me and said         "what you short of mate, 2 euros, here" and handed me the coin.  Startled by this stranger's generousity and pleasantly surprised I was able to hand him a one euro  (una) coin back, and thanked him unreservedly.

So, (instead of anyway)  The whole point of this short story that I have made long, is that, there are nice people out there, and sometimes they even creep up behind you, when you are not looking, but fumbling with a handfull of chocolate button money at a Chemist Counter.

How am I now, did I here you ask, well even if you did not ask, I'll tell you anyway (this word should be banned)  as long as you are still reading mind you. I am well,  almost cured. Overdosed on the said acquired medicine, sparked out in the sun for 4 hours, and the kill or cure approach to Doctoring   seems to have paid off, cured not dead. Though AFTER READING THIS  YOU MAY BE WISHING OTHERWISE, HO HO HO,  !!!

Thats all for now folks, stay tuned to this channel.......  else you might miss something like a hole in the head!!!!!  Adios Amigo Amiga, Hasta Pronto

November 1st

A Bank Holiday here for Halloween. Well any excuse the Spanish need not to work. They have lots of holidays.  Sunny  24 Centigrade in the shade  at lunch time. Sunbathing.  It does get cool at night and need a sweatshirt on, but during the day shorts only still.

The  plants are still in flower, even the English imports  brought over in the back of a van.  No autumn leaves here, all evergreen. Can't say I miss the dead leaves on the pavement, pretty for 2 weeks, on the trees but a signal of death and winter looming, no thanks, prefer blue skies and palm trees.  

The clocks went  forward last week, so it's lighter in the morning, dark by 7pm.  I wish they would leave the clocks alone, it's only shifting darkness from one end of the day to another, pointless. I dont like dark, its boring.

Thankfully most of the Spanish  have gone to their winter quarters. In the summer it's so hot they only emerge from their cave like dwellings at dusk, like Dwarfs living underground. Soon the locals will be wrapped up in coat duvets like Michelin X men .

Today would have been a glorious English Summer's day.