¡Ha estado lloviendo gatos y perros!

Fruit and vegetables are the order of the day, fresh or cooked on the barby. It's a by product of the climate here that everything that's healthy, according to the experts, is available year round and in plentiful supply! Last Christmas we had fresh strawberries for dessert, in November we had a fridge full of honeydew melons and peaches and in February we had bagfulls of pineapples and bowlfuls of grapes. Nothing spectacular there you may say, except these seasonal fruits in Britain cost an arm and a leg out of season whereas here they are as cheap as chips all year round. There is stall upon stall of fruit and veg traders at every market and as I said earlier, there's a market somewhere near open everyday.

Last month whilst Rose's parents were staying with us, she bought in a 4 kilo tray of strawberries for 3, (approx £2) 2 large pineapples 3, 3 kilos of large black grapes 2 and a 5 kilo tray of pears for 4. NB. This meant for around £8.50 we stocked up on fruit that we would normally have reserved for a special treat or at a cut price bargain period.

After three weeks we are still eating the stuff, I mean, how do you get sick of strawberries at that price? Vegetables here are even cheaper and in some cases you would not recognise some varieties due to their lush colour and sheer outsize. Just ask my father in-law who thought the spring onions were of the Spanish round variety, radishes looking like long red carrots and cabbages and caulis the size of the mother in-laws head! Again, a by-product of the climate.

And of course we have the obligatory orange and lemon trees in our garden with a large banana herb in the corner. Our small crop keeps us in large fresh citrus fruit for months. Andalucia is like the garden of Spain with its rich soil most of which is tended by artificial irrigation. Another fact is I have never seen another countries produce on any market stall or supermarket shelf. It all appears to be home-grown which may explain why it's inexpensive. And what with the olive oil and abundant fresh seafood, I don't think we've ever enjoyed such a healthy and varied diet even with all the liquid grape juice we consume and enjoy. (NB 4 kilo is around 9 lbs!)

It was around eighteen months before we actually moved that thoughts turned seriously to the possibility of us moving away to live in Spain. We still had our two son's future and welfare to consider, but they were intelligent young men in which we had instilled what we hoped to be a greater degree of independence, work ethic and good old common sense. Our boys were our lives so it was a priority that as we discussed the possibility of moving, our primary goal became that of their resettlement.

For the most part, Luke and Joseph were initially in favour of the idea, though I believe that was more of a knee jerk reaction at this early juncture due to ignorance of the facts. They understood enough to realise that their mother was perhaps stuck in a routine that would see little if any movement or advancement on a promotional front or increased job security or satisfaction. And as for their father, he appeared to be arriving home with higher blood pressure than was good for him, working, and as a great number do, having to do more for less with little gratitude.

We had sat around the dining room table on a number of occasions as a family discussing all kinds of things and as a close unit, Rose or I very rarely did anything without either discussing or informing the lads first. But this was different for one very big reason. This move would inherently mean a break-up of the family that would possibly never see the four of us cohabiting ever again.

Both had finished full time education at Budmouth Technology College, (of which I had been the chair of the Board of Governors for a number of years) having worked hard to achieve a high number of good graded GCSE and A' level certificates. Both had worked part time jobs, under our guidance, from an early age and had gained knowledge and understanding of what it was like to earn a living and the value of a good work ethic. This we both hoped would stand them in good stead when they eventually took the plunge into the big wide world, which could now be sooner rather than later.

Luke initially had taken the lead in going off to see the world for himself. Firstly as a post sixteen graduate embarking with the college on an expedition to India and the Himalayas for a month. Then after leaving college, he spent four months over in the United States as an instructor with Camp America', a sort of private military college where kids of all ages are taught discipline and the art of working as a team with camps in the middle of nowhere. (Heaven forbid we had that sort of thing here in Britain, it might infringe someone's human rights or improve moral principles. Ooh, too political again AL!)

Afterwards he travelled extensively in the States and then Mexico before finally flying home with some good memories and skills instilled. I don't think life was really the same for him after this point as he hankered after a life he would never realise unless he moved away again. Still, he worked hard and gained a reputation with local companies as a reliable, hardworking and polite employee, though his real goal ultimately was to eventually join the Royal Air Force as an officer and to perhaps one day realise a dream to fly. He had spent a few years as an Air Cadet in the Weymouth branch of the ATC, a very worthwhile association, and had reached the ultimate accolade of actually piloting a glider on a solo flight at the age of sixteen. I don't think we could have been any prouder of him at that time. Luke had a number of knock-backs as most youngsters do, and experienced down times when a lesser spirited boy would have given up. But he continued and persisted and after faltering at his first attempt, was given another future opportunity to realise his dream, but more about that later.

Joseph on the other hand was a little more uncertain of his future. Again he had very good academic qualifications and after a spell of foreign exchanges and ski trips abroad, he too looked to a better life outside of Weymouth. After working firstly in shops, he moved onto becoming a counter clerk in a bank before securing a position as an accounts clerk at New Look which I have to admit, appeared to suit him and his need to get on. However, again as with Luke, Joe was not altogether happy at the prospect of remaining in the area with little chance of excitement. Both of them even at their relatively tender ages realised that not only where jobs far from secure, but earning money was not the be all and end all if all you aspired to was stagnation and unhappiness. But then again, not everyone's the same.

Joe had tried his hand at investigating the sciences during his college work experience but had taken little comfort in discovering that apart from a very few that aspire to become high profile rocketeers for NASA or field scientists digging around in volcanoes or swimming about in the deep blue, a scientist's life could be for the most part awfully mundane. No, it would take something out of the ordinary or special to capture Joe's imagination and the surprise came when he announced that perhaps a career in military service might give him the means to fulfil a more adventurous life. Well, it was certainly a surprise to us as he had never shown any inkling towards the forces. After a chat to explore options, I suggested that perhaps Joe pop to see our next door neighbour, Julian, who we had got to know very well and was a senior officer within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the merchant support arm of the Royal Navy. He appeared to have a pretty comfortable lifestyle as a single man with all the trappings that money brought, but he worked hard at what he did, travelled a lot and enjoyed his work. And so it was that Joe did indeed talk with Julian and after more detailed research on the Internet, it appeared he had possibly found an interesting vocation.

It was a fact however that although we discussed the possibility with both Luke and Joseph of them carrying on to University to study further, neither of them, though, having accrued more than the necessary requirement to do so, opted to do so as neither could see any benefit in the current climate whereby a degree would give them any better an opportunity. Funny, but that seems to have been the case for millions who are now in debt with very little sign of a future prospect! (Now that is controversial AL!)

Useful tip
Accident and injury, like losing your money or being robbed, is possibly the second biggest headache you can experience abroad on holiday or as a newly ensconced inhabitant. The all powerful E111, if you believe what it says, will give you all the cover you will need short of major heart transplanting should you have a medical crisis in the EU. Well, that's not strictly true, but it is good for emergency treatment to at least save your life if that's what's needed.

It's a basic European cover entitlement only but you will certainly need some other form of enhanced cover should you require further recuperative care or evacuation after initial primary treatment. If you are on holiday then you must carry the E111 medical card on you at all times, it's no good at the hotel or villa as if you are involved in an accident and don't have it on you, you will be charged a minimum of at least 100. You will not be allowed to go back for it or get someone else to bring it in later; it MUST be with you on arrival at hospital.

If you're living here, then you can also get basic medical care and be allocated a GP or doctor at a local health centre as long as you have the required paperwork and proof of NI contributions. Take my word for it, it is a long drawn out and confusing process that Rose sorted out using her then limited Spanish, but we now have cover for two years which we can use until either our voluntary contributions here kick in to continue or we seek private healthcare cover which, depending on the level, can be quite expensive. So far, we've spoken to a number of people who have used the Spanish system and have been pleasantly surprised at the care given, especially for the more mature folk, and even someone with an E111 we know had very good care after a major accident. I think it depends greatly on the area and whether you're resident or not.

But if you are seeking holiday insurance, again, take care and heed the warnings of those that did not read the policy small print and make sure you understand just what's included!

Useful hint
Aaahhhh, those soulful eyes, that wagging tail, it looks so lonely and hungry, shall we take it back and feed it? NO! The Spanish treat the majority of their animals with disdain and indifference. Apart from horses and some pets, animals are either for working or a nuisance. But beware the little puppy or mongrel in the street that looks homeless.

Here pets are let out into the street or out of a shop during the day and are let in again at night. Most are chipped, as is the law here along with collars and name tags, but for most this is the exception not the rule. If you do pick a stray up with sorry eyes and take it to your home or rental to feed and look after it, you've probably condemned it forever giving it false hope and taking it away from it's daily stomping ground.

The charitable pounds are full to brimming here and strays or abandoned dogs and cats are a big problem. By all means throw it a biscuit or a sandwich, but don't touch, even if it's injured, then report it to one of the many refuges the numbers of which are in most English speaking rags.

We ourselves rescued two little pups from an aid charity which had been abandoned in a sack on a building site. We never intended to have pets outside of small birds in an aviary, but we wouldn't be without them now. It can be an expensive business with all the jabs and vets bills, but if you're a dog lover..?

Spanish facts
The Romans were present in Spain from 218 BC until the Visigoths kicked them out in 586 AD, the end of Roman rule.

Spain became a member of the single European currency on 1st January 2002 when it adopted the Euro, however, in some places you will still find prices listed in Peseta's, confusing?

The 13 kms wide straights of Gibraltar separate mainland Spain from Africa.

The Spanish Parliament consists of two chambers and is called the Cortes'.

Useful phrase
Cuánto es ese perrito en la ventana? And, tengo mi E111 en el bolsillo, por favor me trata.

Pronounced: Kwantoh ehs ehsay perreeto ehn lah bentanna? And, tehngoe meh ay oonoh oonoh oonoh ehn ehl bollseyo, poor faboor may trahtah.

Meaning: How much is that doggy in the window? And, I have my E111 in my pocket, please treat me.

Next week: Who to tell? Lets gauge public opinion.