Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Merrywidow

Hi there droopsnout how was your holiday? I was trying to be funny - guess that fell flat! Did you figure out my trip to Galicia fell flat. Broke a tooth which developed into an abscess and had to cancel in order to get some dental help - boy was I mad. Re-booked for Tenerife in December - I need some sun. Feel so sorry for Asea - went thru all that many years ago. In two years time she will wonder what she ever complained about. At least she has an easier language to learn - Dutch is another kettle of fish.

droopsnout

Aww, sorry to read that.

Yes, I guess we've all been where asea is. And although we mostly come out the other side without illness or injury, it's still nice to have the encouragement of a few soulmates!

I'm sure that she will be just fine, as you suggest.

Well, good luck with the second attempt at a break. Have just been looking to see if I can find anything cheap (and warm!) from Christmas-ish to mid-February. Can't afford it, as the pound crumbles further, but at least I might not have to heat the house here.

Otherwise next trip is likely to be to the UK in February.

Merrywidow

Forgot to mention to all you lovely people up a mountain in Spain, in France and Asea in Italy - there is snow forecast for south-east England for Wednesday (my birthday - ugh) not to mention the far North and Scotland. Not bad going - this global warming - my mimosa tree is in flower, so is a hyacinth in the garden along with some annual plants that have been flowering for two years non stop.

Merrywidow

Droopsnout - Thomson holidays have some great deals for long stays in the Canaries - self catering. Malta seems cheap too. I would love to leave this winter behind for 3 months but I have a 96 year old mother in a home and that ties me down very firmly.

Thanks for best wishes for my second attempt. Its two week all inclusive - I intend to just veg out in the sun and be waited on hand and foot. Its a Saga holiday, so I don't expect any lager louts or German sun bed hoggers. As long as there is sun I will be happy. Feeling low today, clocks went back and it was raining and dark by 4.30pm today - how I hate English winters.

Savvy_Sue

I just hope your SatNavs work better than MY SatNav. She keeps losing the signal, and if you're looking at the map she randomly jumps the 'carsor' to some other road. Tonight we drove home up the river Avon rather than the road next to it!

DH far prefers an oldfashioned map and a navigator. I use her when I'm on my own, but she's a tad unpredictable.

In the USA we hired a car with NeverLost (c) technology. Only took about an hour and a half to get from the Freeway to our hotel when I misunderstood the instructions and took the wrong turn ...

asea

Thanks again, all

Well, I wouldn't say it is all sorted overnight but I certainly feel a lot more optimistic! I think I am going to write a guide on Moving to Milan as there isn't a very comprehensive one that I've found that has all the small bits of information that make a big difference! Our relocation agent told us that there isn't a guide (& they provided none of the information, we found out the hard way!). I'd feel better about the bad feelings I've had since I moved here if I could prevent some of them for other people.

I really want to volunteer but don't think I will be ready till I can parla Italiano, but hopefully that won't take long.

It's grey & drizzly today but I don't mind, I'm going to try & find a garden centre as I have a big terrace that is just crying out for some plants. Mind you, with my history of looking after plants, I'm not sure they would last the month.

Ah, I'd give anything for a cup of PG Tips, I'm missing my cups of tea so much!

droopsnout

My local Intermarche sells Yorkshire Tea!!!

I'll send you some, if you like!

Edit: I do wish this Board would allow e-acutes. Instead, I get an exclamation mark every time! As in Intermarch!.

LesD

asea wrote: »

Ah, I'd give anything for a cup of PG Tips, I'm missing my cups of tea so much!

From another forum, I saw reference to a British grocery shop in Milan....

"If you really have to have English food, there's the British Grocery in Milan that also carries other international products. Address: Viale Beatrice D'Este 48, 20122 Milan (MI) "

asea

Ooh thank you! I live about a 15-20 minute walk from Beatrice D'Este So will be rushing over there this evening (as the shops close here for about 2-3 hours at lunchtime!)

Hurrah! Tea!

seven-day-weekend

They now sell PG Tips in the Mercadona supermarket!