Was going to Spain from start to finish but now I, Luca have taken over

 Now that I have made the decision to return to Spain & to continue property hunting, the 8 weeks or so before I return seems an age away but still, we have Christmas & the New Year to look forward to. It does though seem such a waste of time though from now until January.

I would never have thought that when I decided to follow my dream in June that it would have taken so long. I really thought it was just a matter of popping over, Saying "Yes we'll have that one" & would be esconced in Spain in early Autumn. But as written, early disappointments have prevented the dates of first September then January not to be possible. Perhaps the big mistake I did make that after I decided to emigrate was to give plenty of time, in fact to much time for all my associations to find my replacements. Again I was thinking of others & putting them before me or my wife something I've tended to do all my life. I don't regret at least I have a clear concience.

My kids I can deal with as I know that they will visit me often (possibly more so, as they tend to be more lumbered with me in England!), my sister & my cousin will come regularly (I think & hope). I already have a couple of replacements for me, just another few but if need to I'll look after them short term using my computer skills. I went to a meeting yesterday where I was just a guest, but lots of my friends implored me to stay, giving me many reasons, I know we've heard them all before. But they won't put me off my dream this time. I have plan B !!!!!

Now as to the blogs on here & I know I am wandering in strange territory here but  there are definately ones I look for first & would feel a big loss without reading further instalments of them.

Tamara you are my guiding Star & your help & guidance are superb. I love your settling in, your observations & sometimes your shared inner thoughts.

Eggcup just love your unfolding story & I know it's gonna turn for the better soon, at least Eggie we know the "warts"  & how perhaps a longer period of time is needed to adjust.

Castillos a fairly new blog writer, your ladies views are enlightening (well to me as man anyway), I hope you expand your views.

Norman Parker I admire the way you have picked yourself up, I totally 100% don't agree with your early life & terrible crimes, but I have been taught to forgive although never forget.

I also love the returned messages. There are others I may have overlooked so I may have to edit this blog, but qite honestly there are other blogs that don't interest me & rarely open.

Then are of course there are the many replies with words of encouragement for me not only to realise my lifelong dream but also to continue writing this blog.

To all of you thank you, I feel, as several of you also feel, that the blogs are so much more civilised rather than forums where they tend to rip writers to pieces & there is often little decorum. 

So that's it then I have booked for my wife & I to travel back to Spain on January 10th 2013. It's again with Ryanair at £135 return for us with all the taxes & the usual Ryanair ripoff's. They were still the cheapest though, Monarch next at £166.

Just the apartment & car hire to sort & I'll probably use the same as last month. Carole was excellent for the apartment & Marbesol Car hire were efficient & cheap. Their cars are shabby, but that's OK, I'm driving it not admiring it. Might let my wife drive this time, I'll take a blindfold!

It will mean I'll miss a quite important Management meeting where I'm secretary, but hey lets see how they "manage".

Dear friends I'm buzzing again & Spain I don't care about your rain & inclement weather I'll be prepared this time.

 I came home from Spain last week feeling very disappointed, dispondent, dejected, full of cold & seriously re-considering my future

I suppose climbing down the stairway off the plane at Malaga airport in the pouring rain did not help. I had anticipated the cold & bought a couple of heavy jumpers, but did not think I needed a coat - bad decision.

The following day the rain was torrential, jumpers keep out the cold but not the driving rain & to add to that the Estate Agent with whom I had an appointment "has not come in this morning as she is sick. Pop back this afternoon she will speak to you then" What a waste of time. The rest of the week really did not improve although the the two other "house salesmen" were really good & helpful both doing their best to find me something akin to my interests.

So after a week of almost continous rain and several soakings, horror of horrors, I was ready & looking forward to flying home. To compound the issue I had developed a very nasty heavy cold.

So for the next few days I pondered & thought, thought & pondered.

There were very strong reasons why I should remain in England, everybody (well almost) speaks English, better the devil you know, so many people rely on me, who'll do all the work if I'm gone? I will be leaving my daughters & 4 grandchildren, my sister & close cousin, maybe the weathers not too bad if I wrap up warm, I won't be able to watch my football teams, I won't have all the hassle of changing everything to Spanish. And everyone tells me I am making a mistake as expats are all streaming back to the UK.

So that's it I'll stay in England & give up my 40 year dream, it was only a pipe dream anyway, I was a fool to consider it anyway.

With this heavy cold I had been very lazy & there was loads of things I left undone, I was feeling very sorry for myself. Then I looked again at this forum, which I had ignored recently. I read a private message which brought a tear to my eye & read all the words of encouragement & of a friend who had sold her house & was bubbling with excitement and unbelievably there were offers to help me in the villages of Spain. Ummm am I making haste quickly!

The following morning I looked out of the window & watched the neighbours scraping the ice from their cars in preparation to go to work, glad I don't work any longer! So it's on with the big coat, heavy shoes,scarf & gloves & out to fetch a newspaper.

Brrr it's cold out here, never mind I'll be home in five minutes  -  then it started to sleet right in my face ........ that's it dream back on, I'll start again re-energised I'll start the work for emmigration again.  

We'll come back again in January hopefully to meet some friends & see what we can do. Google here I come, Ryanair, Monarch who's gonna give me the best deal?

I returned from Spain on Wednesday night, full of despondency after a lousy week in the Spanish rain. I made the seriously wrong decision not to take a coat but a couple of heavy jumpers instead thinking that only the colder nights would be my enemy. Needless to say jumpers do not keep off the rain & then the wet clothes made me feel cold & miserable. "Is this Spain?" I thought, "do I really want to be here?". 

In fact the best part of the trip were the flights of Ryanair, prompt, efficient, no frills & comparitively cheap. We left on time arrived 10 minutes early at Malaga & on the return arrived back at Birmingham 20 minutes early. Just the horrible uncomfortable seats & whinging Brits! Treat it as bus service, follow the rules & they are terrific.

Richard will not be going to Spain, or at least not for some time & then to Alicante, as it now transpires his brother will be returning after living for many years in Brazil as he has been offered a position in Alicante. 

The dubious icing on the cake was that the day before we left Spain I caught this awful cold which just seemed to get worse over the next few days & I have spent the last four days in England trying to regain fitness. I even spent a couple of days either in bed or moping around on the settee. There is no doubt about things look a lot worse when not feeling to good & as the fitness returns the so the despondency disappears. Thank you Tamara for kick starting me again!

Also while I was "away" from the laptop I see I have some lovely encouraging posts, not just encouraging but valuable as well.Thank you all, again one or two further pieces in my jigsaw placed. I think eggcup we may have been in Malaga Airport together but catching different flights.

So its now time to get up off the floor dust myself down start looking again but maybe in a different direction.

I'll tell you my thoughts when I write again soon.