Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Twig

Hi, I hope you don't mind me joining you I live in Valencia (Spain) and I have been trying to find Stardrops - the OS board got me into them and now I can't get any !!!

Does anyone know where I could buy them?

Many thanks

sandy2_2

Twig wrote: »

I live in Valencia (Spain) and I have been trying to find Stardrops Does anyone know where I could buy them?

I´m in Spain as well and have to rely on visitors bringing bottles over

seven-day-weekend

Hi Twig and Sandy, welcome to the board, can't help about the stardrops, sorry!

D-G, I too have to take tablets for blood pressure, but luckily they do control it.

Has the Dr in Spain put you o any medication?

droopsnout

mioliere wrote: »

Our deal with France Telecom is 44 euros a month (with 60 euros refunded after the second month), for Broadband, phone and TV, which seems reasonable.

Hi, Kathy.

Actually, the same deal with Alice is 29.95 euros (though no money back). Two months free, however, and you also get AliceMusic - free downloads - plus 4 hours of free calls to mobiles, not to mention free calls to landlines throughout France, the EU and North America (and other countries, too). After 12 months, the subs go to 39,95, though. No rental for the box, whereas I think FT charge two or three euros a month.

Have a look here.

donny-gal

Hi everyone

Thanks for the good wishes, and welcome newbies. Wonder how lucrative bringing a box of Stardrops in the car next trip down past Alicante could be ?:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Maybe you could mention it to one of the English Shops, or Overseas Supermarkets Ltd., it is unbeleiveable what they have in the Iceland here in addition to the normal Iceland stuff.

Simple story BP been fine have it checked every 6 months for HRT. September it was up, but they were threatening to take me off HRT which I didn't like the idea of, they put it down to that. A couple of weeks later had another check for no reason, and it was still up, mis-communication as I didn't get that message. January went to Dr to have it out re HRT, I walked in to "Oh you have come to have your BP checked at last have yuo", "Eh! What?" It was still up, immediate come off HRT:mad: :mad: still up, on tablets from GP (who just by chance is Spanish!) Told to keep an eye on it here via Pharmacy was OK, then has gone up, and up again, recommended check with Dr. Saga will continue after appointment today.

As for staying here, it is no big deal, no ferry crossing booked yet, only a caravan rally booked for Easter, and the deposit we would lose is £4, plus the weather is good here;) .

DG

btw - Telefonica have a deal on at the moment with 6mb BB @29.95€ on top of line rental until end of 2010 then 40.90€

mioliere

Thanks for that, Droopsnout - I'll take a look.

Kathy

Merrywidow

Hi Donny-Gal - only just tuned in - maybe too late to wish you good luck. I was on HRT when I came to England but my lady doctor took me off it straight away - and that was 20 years ago. She said she had heard so many horror stories she herself would never take it. I suppose its a case of what's worse, the problem or the side effects. I am on a new diabetic medicine which is playing tricks with my liver but I can continue taking it till it reaches double what it is now and then I will have to stop! Crazy or what. Please tune in later and let me know your travel plans.

donny-gal

Well I saw a lovely lady doctor, who spoke perfect English:o , she was very reassuring, and said BP often had no cause, but would do the tests to ensure there was no cause, IYKWIM, so a 24 hour urine test, plus fasting blood test, plus eye test?? (I know you can find out all sorts via the eyes) and a couple of cardiac tests, all within the next fortnight, the eye test being the last and probably quickest results so will then see her again. She doubled my BP tablets, weighed, measured (height & waist) and listened to ticker. I have to walk for an hour each day, and only have protein (fish & poultry) with green vegetables for "dinner". So travel plans are on hold, and then they might clash with Easter which would be expensive, so to be revealed later.

Luckily nothing was booked and nothing will hurt, I had be hoping to be home for when Nephew and wife were having their second as she has just lost her Mum, but this is not to be. Son unperturbed, and as he is going onto a 9 day fortnight starting April, may get out to see us :rolleyes: .

Now to decide on internet connection for April!

Come on DS - what is your results, good I hope.
DG

droopsnout

Ah, it was for Mrs DS! The doc said it was good news and bad news, but it turned out to be better than perhaps we had anticipated.

Am I right to be impressed with the thoroughness of the research being proposed by your Spanish doctor there? Would that be normal in Blighty?

Anyway, I'm sure you'll struggle through another fortnight or more of lovely sunshine!! Your health is what matters, and not much else, really. So chill out and enjoy it!

And for the return journey, when it eventually happens, well, I guess there are lots of potential stop-offs if you prefer to break it up!

Savvy_Sue

droopsnout wrote: »

Am I right to be impressed with the thoroughness of the research being proposed by your Spanish doctor there? Would that be normal in Blighty?

I have nothing direct to compare it with, but I find over here it's pot luck how seriously things are taken, depending on who you see.

There are a couple of our GPs who will do extra tests and refer you promptly if you ask them, but don't rush to do it until you ask them. Then there is another who refers almost before you're in through her surgery door: I find that quite alarming rather than reassuring!

What I do find frustrating is that every January I have a brain scan. I have to wait until February or March to be sent a follow up appointment from that, and the appointment is in April. 3-4 months to know if you still have a brain!

This year I have phoned to check whether I need to keep the appointment or not, and fortunately the secretary had the wit to say "It says there's no change, I'm sure he won't mind if you don't come in, I'll get him to write to you."

But if I were the worrying type, that's still several months to be worrying.