Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Anyway, I never did see PICTURES of you in tights

Well, you know, there was just ONE picture, and all I did was copy it from the company that Pigsback was promoting onto the PB thread. It wasn't of me, of course, but part of the fun of a forum is that the imagination can run wild!

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

(is one allowed to call the Pigsback thread "plebby", I wonder?)

Well, you know, the threat of exposing "man in tights" pushed me to the limit, lol. I hope the PB community of back then will forgive me. It's a different set of people these days, very much reduced in number, and not a fraction of the fun it was in those days.

As for the last part of your message, I have one female friend who is so upset at the thought of teambuilding days away from the work environment that the thought of them makes her quite panicky. She absolutely hates them, and it has led to difficulties between her bosses and herself, which ultimately led to her bosses being sanctioned from above! In my limited experience, they really do unite people, though. Against the idiots who organise them!!!

Bruja_2

Hello all
I don't post much but do look at this thread from time to time to see what other ex pats are up to.
Just wanted to say hello and defend the lovely Island of Tenerife where I live.
I appreciate it's not everyones cup of tea and I missed the big shops at first but I've got used to that now. For me, the big plus is the weather, I just love to be warm all the time. Yes we do get a few rainy days in the winter when it hammers down but those are forgotten as soon as the sun comes out.
Love reading about what you're all up to.

droopsnout

Hi, Bruja, and welcome!

Don't worry about my comments about islands! It's a thing my wife and I share. We always go on holiday by car, for instance, as we hate to feel trapped or even dependent on public transport (though we do like to use buses and trains when we can). Millions of quite sensible people don't feel as we do, so we know we are odd!! lol

Well, I've never even been to Tenerife, so tell me ... Why would I have the time of my life there? What are the main attractions, and would it be OK for a quiet-living, simple soul like me? (= boring old ...)

seven-day-weekend

Welcome Bruja and I'm sure Tenerife is terrific.

Like droopsnout I would rather live on the mainland because we prefer to drive, but it wouldn't do for us all to be the same would it.

Please keep posting, the more posters, the more interesting.

Bruja_2

I guess what there is to do depends on whether you're a tourist or a long stay visitor. For the tourists there are the usual water sports, boat trips, the parrott park, jungle park, siam park and of course Mount Teide, many bars and restaurants with three course 7 euro menus and 1 euro pints, and plenty of night life with live entertainment.
For the ex pats there is almost anything you want to do, plenty of golf, fishing, walking and other sports, a good bus service which would take you to typical canarian villages or to the capital, Santa Cruz ,where the tram makes it easy to get around. If people have hobbies they tend to start groups to meet likeminded people.
I prefer to live in the town where everything I need is a walk away, but there are still lots of quiet coastal towns and country villages for those who like their gardens and more peaceful surroundings.. and of course, it's always warm.
I can't say if you would have the time of your life droopsnout, what do you like to do?

droopsnout

AH, you've already given me ideas there, Bruja!

I enjoy eating, so a 7-euro menu quickly grabbed my attention!! Cheapest here are around 11 euros, and in the last couple of years they have kept the price stable at the expense of quality, in our humble opinions. Of course, 10 euros used to be £7 ... Not too bad.

I also enjoy travelling and sight-seeing. I enjoy interacting with people, though am quite shy really. Not interested at all in bars, night clubs, etc. Regard most shops as the enemy!

I like barbecues with friends, firework displays, gardens, plants, photography, and growing my own fruit and veg. I listen a lot to the radio, and spend far too much time on this laptop! Not too bothered about TV. Not sporty: can manage a pitch and putt, but have never been on a proper golf course. Used to like fishing but have gone squeamish about it! Like nature and animals, but don't have pets, preferring to see them in the wild, and also I get too attached to pets and get upset when they die. Don't like noisy city centres or crowds, but do occasionally like a foray into town to see the lights or explore a couple shops.

To summarise, I like the gentle social pleasures, I suppose. I'm very simple (yes, I know!!) and easy to please and adaptable. Will try most things once.

donny-gal

Trust you to follow your stomach and purse DS. Don't let me mis-lead you with our area, while there are plenty of bars/restaurants/shops, we tend to go to the quieter bars, sometimes with live music from the 60's/70's era not todays "music", eating out we prefer to find the more Spanish type of place with a Menu del Dia or Noche, which with the state of the Spanish Economy can start from 4 or 5€ up to 10-11€. Where we live is very quiet, and while a short walk to everything, no noise seems to penetrate our area, loads of coastal and country walking, oodles of golf courses, but not interested and they are not cheap I am told, plenty of fishing here too, both on lakes and at the coast. Plenty of parades, fiestas, firework displays too. We enjoy just sitting on patio, playing board games or cards, having a BBQ on our own or with friends and/or neighbours, but I like to have the choice near at hand. When our son and GF arrives and they wish to boogie until 4am, or find a really nice indian or chinese, well that is available too, though they also like sitting on the patio playing board games!
DG

seven-day-weekend

Our little village is very quiet, too quiet for me on occasions, I sometimes go stir crazy. If like me you are not sporty and don't like climbing mountains, you can walk in one of two directions or go into one of the village bars. If you ARE sporty there is horse riding, hill walking and mountain biking. I tend to mainly read and go on the internet.

We go to the coast usually once a week to shop and see a bit of life (although my husband does like walking in the hills and takes a neighbour's dog with him when he goes).

But if you want peace, tranquillity and outstanding natural beauty, this is it.

I get my 'fix' of museums and art galleries when I go to the UK.

gallygirl

I'm em probably a bit younger than many on here (age still starts with a 4) (just ). Thoughts of quiet drinks on patios etc should probably bore me senseless but I can't think of anything I would sooner be doing - when I'm fed up in the UK and wish I was elsewhere 9 times out of 10 it is sitting on front terrace with a book in my hand & a glass or mug on the table (depending on time of day). The other 1 out of 10 is walking along a quiet beach (even in high season you can find somewhere quiet).

Need to get back into board games in prep of retiring - I'm just looking forward to doing lots of jigsaw puzzles

droopsnout

We're all different, as s-d-w said. I'll join you for a drink and a walk on the beach (if I may be so forward!) and even for a few board games. Would you mind if I opted out of the jigsaw puzzles, though?