Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

seven-day-weekend

Oh, I know several people who have returned, or who are thinking of returning. Usually because of marriage break-ups or financial problems.

There is no work here, even Spaniards have it tough, so if you need to earn a living then usually once the savings have run out the people have to go back because not only do they stand a better chance of getting a job in the UK, but if all else fails there are State Benefits.

Also many younger expats are not covered for Spanish Healthcare and can't afford private insurance, that's another reason they go back.

The young couple I mentioned are house-swopping for a year and have jobs to go to in the UK. They can't sell their Spanish house and it has a mortgage.

EdInvestor

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Out of the blue yesterday, whilst still purring like a traction engine, she turned round whilst I was stroking her and for no reason bit me so deeply that there was copious blood :mad: and it really hurt and swelled up:eek:. I had to take myself off to the docs for a tetanus injection!

Ouch I used to have a Siamese (and a Burmese, even better IMHO) and they tend to be very sensitive around the ears. If your hand inadvertently got near their ears or touched them in a particular spot in that area, they would bite you. Their ears are rather large of course and one suspects they may be used for other purposes, such as navigation or even balance, and thus to be accorded extra protection.

Might this have been the problem?

donny-gal

There are many reasons for people selling up and returning, some only bought to make a profit and with the euro at the moment even if you only get what you paid for it 6-7 years around then you do make a good profit, there are times when it is tempting. Others do not consider fully before setting off and think there will be a marvellous job awaiting them. Others are good while they have the funds to be on permanent holiday and when the euro was lower then they could and now they feel hard done by. Others have reached an age where they feel they want to be nearer their family or at least a Dr who speaks their language.

I had an email yesterday from the people who are joined to me, to say they are putting their house on the market. They bought it thinking they would spend winters here, but she has become involved with many societies and now does not feel she can be away for more than a normal holiday period, and is bored as she has now seen around the area. To be honest they have never really spent much time there, having big holidays in other places i.e. China while they have it so to be no unexpected. Mainly now the Dutch and northern European citizens are buying and if they are as nice as our current Dutch neighbours then that is great by us.

7DW - hope the hand is soon better, but it wouldn't be fed by me again!

DG

seven-day-weekend

EdInvestor wrote: »

Ouch I used to have a Siamese (and a Burmese, even better IMHO) and they tend to be very sensitive around the ears. If your hand inadvertently got near their ears or touched them in a particular spot in that area, they would bite you. Their ears are rather large of course and one suspects they may be used for other purposes, such as navigation or even balance, and thus to be accorded extra protection.

Might this have been the problem?

Ah. Might have been - I'll take more care in future.

Bite has only just stopped hurting!

gallygirl

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Ah. Might have been - I'll take more care in future.

Bite has only just stopped hurting!

OOOOOHHHHH SDW I dreamt about you last night :eek:, you had a 3 legged cat & made us v welcome when we came to visit. Even though I called you Seven & Mr Seven the whole time :rotfl:

seven-day-weekend

Hey...people dreaming about me at my age!

We would indeed have made you very welcome, galleygirl!

EdInvestor

Alpujarras angle on UK MPs expenses scandal :eek:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5321064/Margaret-Moran-faces-investigation-over-Commons-notepaper-found-outside-Spanish-home-MPs-expenses.html

seven-day-weekend

EdInvestor wrote: »

Alpujarras angle on UK MPs expenses scandal :eek:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5321064/Margaret-Moran-faces-investigation-over-Commons-notepaper-found-outside-Spanish-home-MPs-expenses.html

Yes, this has been in local Spanish and expat press.

She very arrogantly tried to stop people walking across her land to get to their homes and as it says in the article this is SO against the spirit of the Alpujarras (those tracks are sheep tracks that have existed for hundreds of years) that she just came over as an arrogant so-and-so. I didn't know she had used House of Commons notepaper though. - what a cheek and how dare she try to intimidate people like that?

It is also against the law as Decreta Real (Royal Decree) Number ??? says that any body can walk anywhere in Spain as long as no damage is done - this law was made by King Juan Carlos not long after he came to the throne to make up for all the years of repression under Franco.

Luckily Ms Moran's property is right over the other side of the Alpujarras to mine!!

droopsnout

Hope your hand is better, s-d-w.

I would never harm one, but I'm not keen on cats except where they earn a living as mousers.

Have you considered revenge by biting back?

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Hope your hand is better, s-d-w.

I would never harm one, but I'm not keen on cats except where they earn a living as mousers.

Have you considered revenge by biting back?

Same here, except it's dogs with me and if they are working dogs fine, but most (not all) pet dogs are very demanding pains in the a£$e imo.

Hand is getting better thanks, cat is still around - I have not stroked it since but it still follows me around, like a dog.