I've decided to de-clutter my life. I've always been a bit of a hoarder, but now it's time to "get rid".
All those shirts that I'll never get into again; the trousers which are too tight round the middle.
[Image courtesy of Time For You Cleaning]
In addition to reducing the size of my "wardrobe", a lot of the pictures and artefacts I accumulated over many years have to go.
My pet collections will remain, however. Elephants, sea-horses, geckoes, scorpions and cats, some of them living beings. Countless geckoes, thankfully few scorpions and our two rescue cats, Paulinchen and Fritzi.
Houses
I own two houses in Spain. My domicilio, in Ronda, where I live with my German "missus", and also a rental property in the nearby mountain village of Montejaque.
I've decided to give up renting and sell my rental house.
The bureaucracy is a nightmare and it's just got worse.
So, I'm selling up. I can use the money for other projects, like really attacking my "bucket list".
Casa Real, Montejaque [Karl Smallman]
Cars and bicycles
We have two Peugeots, my 2008 hatchback and Rita's charming little black 207 cabriolet.
We don't really need two cars, in my opinion, but Rita says we do ..... so, that's the end of that!
After all she's the boss!
I had two bikes, but I've just sold one to a friend, keeping the e-bike for the time being.
Peugeot 207 cabriolet [Peugeot]
My bugbears
There are a handful of things I would love to de-clutter, but can't.
Bad debtors and Spanish bureaucracy in general; Hacienda (Tax Authorities), Spanish banks and Guardia Civil Trafico in particular.
guardia civil trafico roadblock [gct]
A number of people owe me money, mostly British fellow-countrymen, Irish "deadbeats" and a German Frau. Am I a soft touch? I guess I'm too trusting. No Spaniard owes me a "penique", by the way!
So, come on Neil G., Julian M., Rob, Gertraud F., Algatocin "cock teaser", Amanda Mc., and Trish Z, PAY ME WHAT YOU OWE ME!
Oh! There is one Spanish company that has ripped me off. They're called AQUALEI, a water treatment company based in Elche near Alicante.
[Image: Toons Mag]
Last Word
I think my decision to de-clutter my life as much as possible is a good one. At 75 years of age I ought to be slowing down!
Unfortunately, living in Spain means we all have to put up with Hacienda, banks and the traffic cops, not just we "guiris", but the Spanish too.
However, they're accustomed to it, so they just shrug their shoulders and get on with enjoying other aspects of their lives.
[Image courtesy of The Corner]
Links:
CASA REAL, MONTEJAQUE - Large modernised traditional village house in beautiful pueblo blanco - PRICE REDUCTION 120.000€ - Help me, Ronda
Help me, Ronda - HELP ME RONDA - On the header bar click on more, FAQ, Tax and Finance, where there are three relevant articles
POLICE - Help me, Ronda
Rogues Gallery – the name and shame blog - Eye on Spain
The Spanish Police are beginning to get on my nerves! - Help me, Ronda
What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad? - www.secretserrania.com
© Diary of a Nobody
Acknowledgements:
Guardia Civil Trafico, Karl Smallman, Peugeot, The Corner, Time For You Cleaning,
Tags:
cop, Diary of a Nobody, Eye on Spain, Guardia Civil Trafico, guiri, Hacienda, Paul Whitelock, police, Rita, Secret Serrania, Spanish banks, Spanish bureaucracy, traffic cop, www.help-me-ronda.com