Now what's all this rubbish about rubbish? Am I going mad or did I read somewhere that a number of councils in England are distributing up to five different refuse bins to each household and demanding they separate their own waste? Did I further read that collection of said rubbish containers will only take place once every two weeks!

So, why have council tax bills in Blighty gone up so much and the services gone down? I'm at a loss I must confess, I'm nearing the period in my ongoing feature were we weigh up all the reasons for and against leaving England green and once pleasant land, and possibly out of all the negative aspects, one stands out more than all the others. The inability of the local Council to actually run my town competently! No other words for it, the local Council has, in my opinion over a number of years now, failed in just about every department regarding the upkeep, promotion, maintenance and all round value for money you would and should expect from so high a price paid in taxes.

In the past I've met with them, phoned them, written to them and even corresponded through the Dorset Echo with them and as yet, failed to gain any excuse, explanation, elucidation, justification or reason as to why my money was ill spent, wasted or produced less every year.

I'm sure someone out there can enlighten me, I'm also sure there is a perfectly logical explanation, as I'm also sure that the Council spokesperson would do their best to blame someone or something else. I'm also sure that there are a great number of hard working individuals who work for the Council that are conscientious and graft daily in a attempt to do their best with what they have. But the finger isn't pointing at those who have some semblance of conscience or common sense. The fact is, as I wrote last year in a reply to a prominent Council officer, there was nothing, no incentive, no real sign of future investment or improvement which would give reasonable reason to keep me or my family there. Nothing I could see but higher local taxation for inferior services. Sounds harsh? Well, here in my little corner of Andalucia, I get my bins emptied every night from my front gate, (Oh yes, only the one bin, everything goes into it, and I mean they take everything). I have street lights, a new fire station, a new health centre, new shopping centres and supermarkets. The roads are swept constantly by an army of cleaners. Fruit trees are being planted, tended and are growing everywhere in the streets, there's very little yob culture, plenty of police, three new industrial business parks around the town have sprung up, and I can walk into town and back every night with my wife believing I'm not going to be stabbed to death. And for most of this I pay around 150 euros a year, (about £125!). Couldn't the same services be available at the same cost in South Dorset?

No, again, Spain is not perfect, it's just different, but the differences between my contentment here and how it was in Weymouth is immense at a fraction of the cost to me. My only question, why couldn't the council in my beloved Weymouth have given or provided me with better reasons to stay, after all, I was paying a premium price?

Our one and only pet, Spot, a beautiful grey and yellow cockatiel, had unfortunately been left on the back burner with regards to transporting to our new home. We had previously informed DEFRA and numerous other agencies including the local vet of our intention to transport the bird to a foreign country, and again had come up against some confusing bureaucracy. We were advised by said agencies of the routine that had to be meticulously followed in order to take Spot overseas. One particularly strange task was the requirement by the vet for a sample of Spot's poo, don't even go there! The amount had to be precisely 10 grams. Have you ever tried to collect just ten grams of bird poo, especially with the bird in flight?

However, a lot of what we were told was contradictory to what was actually required. Nevertheless, we did all we thought was right and established that she, (at least I thought Spot was a she) would have to depart prior to our departure and that we would be in place at the Villa when she arrived. Actually finding someone to move her became the crux of the matter. After some internet trawling it was clear that prices and facilities ranged from £200 for a slow boat to China which could take some weeks, to a first class box transfer by aircraft which would cost around £1200! I mean to say, she only cost a tenner as a fledgling to buy, but as part of the family as all pet owners would understand, needs must.

We settled on a relatively comfortable and reliable method by employing a company to take her in her own cage by road, in an air-conditioned van, down to Southern Spain, cost, £400. It appeared to be the best and most economic way of getting her over there and it meant she would be picked up a couple of days before we left and we would be there to meet her. As I said before, this was one of the unforeseen costs incurred and taken from a rapidly dwindling budget. Never mind, we arranged for the paperwork to be available at the vets with all the correct stamps and signatures which our son would pick up and take, along with Spot, to the in-laws at Portesham for collection by the pet transport people. We would have very few dealings with anyone after moving into the bed and breakfast, as the car would also hopefully have been sold.

That aside and taken care of, all attention and thoughts turned to our youngest son Joseph and his imminent graduation from Britannia, Dartmouth Naval training college. I had arranged a hire car in case the BMW sold quickly, which it did. I had also arranged to leave work some days before which also helped as the time we needed seemed to be running away fast.

Leaving work was a quiet but gratifying and enlightening affair. I had been employed by the same company based in Bristol in the transport of prisoners and running of law courts since leaving the Royal Navy some eleven years previously after 22 years.

For the most part I had enjoyed the work and the majority of the people. But as a lot of companies experience at some time or another, loyalty, commitment to the workforce, a good work ethic and sufficient training are the first things to fall away in favour of profit and do or die contract hunting. It's a shame, but this company in particular have lost a good many people over the recent years due to middle mismanagement and a couldn't care less attitude. Sour grapes you may say? Well, I can state for the record hand on heart that had this particular company heeded the greater experience and knowledge of a number of my departed colleagues, I may still be living in Weymouth and working there now. Although another major factor was the inept and sheer outdated and ineffective system the Law Courts operates under. If only the general public knew or had my experience about the internal workings of the justice industry, it would make them shudder!

It's fair to say I could get into a number of character assassinations and the negative aspects of working for such a company and within the legal system, but that would make me no better than them and not taking this approach only helps to enhance my own business ethics of hard work, loyalty, reliability and conscientiousness. Traits, which I employ in my current business and have served me well, sort of poor business practice, learnt the easy way you may say!

There was very little love lost between the company and myself at this time, everything appeared to be degenerating in one way or another so leaving would come as a welcome relief.

Only the closest of my colleagues knew of my premature departure, a courtesy bestowed on those who truly wished me luck. The planning and actuating of my imminent departure excited me as the days went on. On the final Friday I left, I said goodbye to everyone as normal with the usual see you on Monday' or have a good weekend' ringing in my ears, before calmly walking out of the door of the cell area at Weymouth Magistrates Court for the last time. I was forever free of the stresses and strains caused by the unpredictability of a hazardous position and the uncertainty of cost cutting and problem ignorance.

I had been a loyal and conscientious employee. My work ethos, commitment and knowledge had always been second to none, (as it is here in Spain). But sometimes to make a point you have to make a stand and do the unthinkable or unexpected to get a message across.

There were a number of people I would have liked to have said goodbye to, in the upper offices, Weymouth Courts and associated buildings, even some at head office and other Courts in the contract area who experienced daily the same struggles as me with little thanks.

But the shine would have been taken off the edge had too many people known. Besides, it all adds to the intrigue and fun as I have found out since leaving from a close work colleague that stories came thick and fast from all quarters about the reasons for my mysterious departure, but only I knew the real reason, and only I enjoyed and revelled in the experience.

Ask anyone who has walked out from a place of work they didn't want to be to be free, it was absolutely euphoric!!! I had always worked for the man, now I was the man!

Helpful tip
Pets! They make you laugh, you care for them, feed them, get bitten by them, get messed on by them, they can break your heart, but always a pet is a part of the family, be it a majestic horse or a little white mouse, always a sorely missed fixture when they're gone.

Transport to a foreign country is a long, drawn out affair from Britain to the rest of the world, though the importing country appears unconcerned.

Our Cockatiel though small, was part of the family and because of all the reasons above, we found a number of companies choose to exploit this fact by extortionate charges for transport.

The other challenge again is the extreme weather and unfamiliar conditions your pet will have to endure during and after arrival. Our Spot was, generically, a tropical bird and therefore very quickly adapted to her new home that we had purposely built. But shaggy haired or older pets like dogs, cats and temperate weather animals can really suffer either failing to or finding it hard to adapt. It can be cruel and make a pets life a misery to go from a rain swept Blighty to 40o of heat. Think how it affects you, then treble the feeling for your pet who can't moan about the heat or conditions!

I've known people take their ill-equipped pets to foreign climes only for the poor creature to die, be put down or to mope around endlessly. If you've got a plot with the property, then you can build accommodation to suit and ease the stress, but think very carefully before deciding to go ahead and bring them.

(Tropical fish, no problem!) Just be prepared to fork out thousands of pounds for a safe journey.

Helpful hint
My leaving work experience was planned and carried out to accommodate me! It's amazing the people I've spoken to since whose faces took on a quizzical look when I offered that I had given no notice when leaving my job. As a previous TGWU representative, I knew the rules governing contracts and also knew there was no statute reason that notice be given in the termination of contract by the employee, save losing severance or final pay endorsements.

That's something I had already taken into account, that and the fact that hell would freeze over before I would ever consider working with that particular company or in that particular industry ever again, so I was sure.

You can leave any time you want with no notice, that's not to say loyalty and commitment should be ignored when dealing with a decent employer, like for example my wife, who worked her terms by the book because she had been content and treated well by the Land Registry.

(That and the fact that we planned to return after three years and she would require her position back as termed in her current contract).

No, you decide as an individual when you want and how you want to leave on your final day, though if you want that gold watch and a big send off party, it may pay to give it your all to the end!

Spanish facts
If you want meat, go to the Carneceria, (butcher)
If you want bread or cakes, go to the Panaderia or Pasteleria, (bakers)
If you want fish, go to a Pescaderia, (fish market or seller)
If you want medication, go to a Farmacia, always marked by a flashing green cross, (chemist)
And if you want the post office, go to a Correos, painted in yellow.

Three of my favourite dishes available on request from just about everywhere:
Estafado, a lovely, meaty Iberian stew with everything in it;
Fabada, a bean, pork, ham and sausage soup, blinking beautiful;
And my most favourite, Pulpo De Gallega, which is fried baby Octopus served with slices of pan fried potato in olive oil and seasoned with hot spices, (I'm drooling!!!) Try them before you reject them!

Useful Phrase
Me dispensa señor/señora, habla usted inglés? Le puede me ayuda, soy perdido.
Pronounced: may deespaynsah saynoyr/saynoyrah, ablah oostayd eenglays? Lay pwayday may aaudah, soy payrdeedoh.
Meaning: Excuse me sir/madam, do you speak english? Can you help me, I am lost!

Next week
Officer cadet Joseph Davies passes out, we move out into the B&B. Six days from f' day!