I'm in Heaven

There's no harm in fantasies; everyone has them, I am led to believe. Before putting the Brutish Isles in my rear view mirror I imagined myself as a writer in Spain where awaited my pre-death Elysium. There would be no need at all for artificial heating; there would be sufficient natural warmth. The views would be lovely; the opportunities endless; everyone (nearly) would be nice to each other.

My home would be Spanish and cottage-like, with a porch (not a verandah). With the clock in the dustbin I would tap happily away as I painted pictures with words. In the background would be Beethoven's Spring Symphony. (youtube it)

Occasionally there would be a glass of ruby-red wine to hand and my companion, other than my imagination, would be a delightful wifelet; a hand-maiden. I got most of the fantasy right so dreams do come true. Keep reaching for the stars, everyone.

What's your fantasy? Did it come true for you too or are you still working your way to it?

What's my fantasy? 

Now, Mike, that would be telling  but yes much the same as you, except we do live part time in both the UK & in Guardamar, which suits us. We are in a beautiful part of England, we're high up with incredible views. To have huge peace of mind too would be great!.

The clock in the dustbin idea is superb.  My OH tried to change his watch battery himself in Spain some months ago & the thing fell apart in his hand. He looked at watches then said he really didn't need one. (I have my watch on sometimes anyway & his mobile has the time on).

We dreamed of working from home - in the sunshine of course. We knew that we wanted to work hard (be bored mindless otherwise) but without the dreaded commute. We wanted to banish the power suits to the charity shops or back of the wardrobe. We wanted a doggie to be padding around the place with a cold wet nose nudging our knees every now and again.

We didn't seek to be millionaires, or to take the world by storm... but to simply earn enough money to not worry about bills... and to maybe stretch to a seafood extravaganza at a beachfront restaurant once in a while - and maybe the odd glass of vino collapso of an evening.

We wanted to have friends over for dinner and drinkies regularly - but be able to sit outside on the terrace ANY night of the year. We wanted my asthma to be much improved, and for my bones not to ache like they did in the damp dark British winters. My asthma is now almost gone, and my bones are fine! I even go hiking now... which has helped me no end.

We too wanted to bin our alarm clocks... and indeed we did - and we haven't worn watches for some time either. We do have the time on the PC if we really need to know (to be fair that normally only reminds us that we should stop working and crack open a bottle)

We wanted hubby's kids to have a choice when they left school as to where they lived. One has already lived with us for a year. He went back to the UK to study Leisure & Tourism... but that finishes in a few weeks, and he's moving back out here to live and work. Lucky boy!

Did we get all that? Oh yes - and a whole lot more! We have two dogs instead of planning for one - and they're great lads! It's been almost four years now. I went back to the UK for a week in January... my first in 3 years - and I was reminded of how lucky we are to have a home in the Canaries.

Elle xx

Great post, Elle, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it & felt I was there with you.

The replies bring to mind a sign I saw in a local estate agents: "You only live once. Live it right and once is enough.'  I remember a TV newsreader in an off the cuff remark, when she herself was being interviewed: 'My community is between my ears.'  I can't recall which one; only that I hadn't before liked her but that remark warmed me towards her.

We dreamed of retiring to our dream home in the sun, though we wanted something to do to occupy ourselves.  We were buying on a golf resort, the idea being that I would part-time as a complementary therapist and John would also look for part-time work.  Not that we needed to earn money as we both had reasonable pensions to live on, but we thought we might get bored otherwise - and every extra penny helps too!

Well, the original dream home didn´t materialise (the developer went into voluntary administration - it´s a long story and if you are really interested you can read my book! ) 

I discovered that it would cost me a lot of money to work as a complementary therapist, which would mean finding loads of clients to pay for my insurance, social security payments etc, so at the moment I am not doing reflexology or on-site massage as I had originally planned.  There is no golf course or new development for John to find part-time work either.  So are we getting bored?

On Mondays we help a friend´s 10 year old daughter with her English.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays we go to Spanish lessons.  On Wednesdays we spend one hour with a Ukrainian friend, helping her with English assignments, plus one hour with a Spanish teenager, helping him with his English,  We have also been asked to set up an intercambio de lengua. 

A Spanish street dog decided to adopt us, so we do a fair bit of walking, as well as going to the local market and to the shops.  We have made some good friends locally, both Spanish and English, so we meet friends for coffee several times a week plus we make the occasional visit to a bar for tapas and vino.

In my spare time I am now writing for several free magazines based in Spain, as well as working on my blog.  John takes our dog Lisa for a walk, or watches football on Spanish TV, while I am writing, so that keeps him out of mischief.

We have lived here for nearly two years now and although reality is nothing like our original dream, we can honestly say that we have a wonderful life here and have no regrets.

Sue

Sue & John are great people. They took us to visit their local bodega  when my husband & I spent some hours with them in Jumilla, having braved two horrendous hours travelling from Guardamar on the motorways.

They both speak Spanish but let me order soup that had half a rabbits head in complete with teeth, at a Spanish bar when we had our MDDs. John & I ordered the same but ,as there was only one portion left , John chose something else, wasn't HE the lucky one?  

We met Lisa the tiny dog that was always sitting outside their apartments, she's a little sweetheart.  I'm SO pleased she's with Sue & John who love & care for her, she deserves that.

Sue, you omitted to mention your blog http://spainuncovered.com/ so I will.  

Thanks, More!  To be fair, neither of us realised at the time that there are two versions of Gazpacho and unfortunately this bar was serving Gazpacho Manchego not the more widely known Gazpacho Andaluz!

I have related your "interesting" experience in an article that will be published in the summer edition of Costa Brava Magazine - "Vegetarians Guide to Surviving in Spain".  An exclusive excerpt is given below:

"A friend of ours decided to have gazpacho as a starter, assuming it was the Gazpacho Andaluz she had enjoyed before in other restaurants. More does eat meat, however she chose what she thought was a vegetarian dish for her starter.   Much to her horror the waiter brought her Gazpacho Manchego and she spotted a rabbit’s head staring up at her!" 

Fame at last!

Sue

Thanks for the positive comments morerosado - starts my day on a high.

So far today I have woken up without the need for an alarm - mind you that was because I could hear strange noises coming from outside the bedroom door.... so I knew our newer younger dog was up to something - and sure enough.... as I opened the bedroom door... there he was with his tail wagging, surrounded by a sea of my chewed up brown sequinned wedges. Not that I have lots of brown wedges of course.... he'd just managed to chomp his way through a pair - and spread them all over the house!

But at least he's fully house trained now... so after letting them out in the garden for a big wee.... and then feeding them their breakfast  - I took them both out for a nice walk. The sun is shining. It looks like it will be a scorcher today - and the views across to Fuerteventura are crystal clear and stunning today!

Later on I shall stroll along the promenade to go visit a potential new client.... and then come home to carry on working at my PC. Happy days!

Oh my god - I didn't know that there was a type of gazpacho with a rabbit's head in it?! Not sure hhow I'd feel seeing it looking up at me - but I'll bet it tastes fantastic!

I've had a quick look at your website Sue - and I shall defintely pop back into it later dfor a really good look around. Give Lisa a tickle from us!

Elle xx