I want to go Home to UK!

[princess peach]

Having looked at your links Hilly,i still feel the same way about Spain,except i no longer feel safe here regarding the current state of things.pound to euro etc,mortgage gone sky high?
I feel i would rather be in my own country and in the same state.
We are losing around 120.00 euros a month,with mortage and exchange rate.Its a lot when there is only one wage coming in.We dont want to dip into our savings.We want to manage on the income that we have.Hopefully in 6 months time,when the mortgage is reviewed again,it might go down a little.Just seems unfair when we ploughed in 75,000 euros to go towards the cost of the house,so our re-payments would be less and are now paying the same repayments as another friend on the Urb that got 110% mortage,he has nothing to lose as he hasnt put anymoney in like we have.Just doesnt seem fair.P!sses me right off!

[Devils Advocate]

I think the key word here is "home".....and it's not the first time you've made reference to where you feel that is, I think that goes a long way in helping you sort things out and put things in perspective.
Turning it on its head, if yourself and the family make a decision to go "home" then you have something to look forward to and to achieve, no matter how long it may take....whenever you're down you can then say "Well it's not for long, we'll soon be back"
As I said before things will turn around financially in Spain as it always does, there were crashes in property in the 70's and 80's as there is now......but it's just a big circle, life is .
Spain is the closest place to the UK and Germany with serious sun so it will always have a pull.

I agree, you will not be as miserable when things are not going to plan when you're in your "home" surroundings....and you can still always visit Spain...........bet you love it 10 times more as a visitor when you've got your place sorted back in the UK.
I bet/hope you're feeling better in yourself for facing and realising this now whilst you've got the power and the age to do something about it..............Imagine how people feel who are trapped and CAN'T do anything about it.



DA

[HKM]

just out of interest where is home? For me even though I moved from where I grew up, and lived 300 miles away before we came to Spain. The place I grew up is still 'home'..

[Devils Advocate]

Home for me is the place you reside where the question of "returning home" never arises.

DA

[katy]

"Home" for me is in a place I own and where all my stuff is

Spain is a bit miserable just now, the recession is visible and it isn't in other countries. Empty shops and restaurants, unheated premises. I would really like to go out to dinner and see more than about 4 people in the place.

I know people who have moved back to the UK and then returned to Spain. If after about 2 months you feel the same about leaving Spain best to rent in the UK and see how it goes. I have to say I am more than slightly *beep* off with Spain.

[Paula]

If your husband has at least 2 years work lined up you would be silly to throw the towel in now as you would lose so much money making the move. (I read your first post of no job prospects as meaning no work prospects)
We have to hope it will turnaround Which I stay positive about until I read too many newspapers

I think in any times of trouble financial, health or whatever, it is natural to feel a desire to return "home", it's where you understand everything, you usually have a support network of family and friends to help out. Lets face it you are living in a foreign country, sometimes it can be a minefield if you are financially secure, but mortgages, having to work, bringing up children etc etc one little blip and all those things can seem scary.
Personally in those circumstances I would stay put and ride it out as long as there is work. Any signs that I was going to be heading into major debt I would be looking for plan B.

[oliveview01]

Hubby comes from North of the Border and moved to London when he was 18. It took him years (and lots of tellings off from a lady he worked with) for refering to Scotland as home, she used to tell him his home was in Essex, not Scotland
I´ve been in a down spell too, MIL hasn´t helped, she is gradually ´losing the plot´ so we can only see many problems ahead. Hubby has no other brothers or sisters, so at the moment things are a bit ´what do we do now´ We know we can´t fetch her here to live with us (We would probably end up murdering her or divorced!!) Roll on spring I say and lets have a positive attitude here............ things will get better, we were skint working full time back in the UK, so what is the difference now?

Back to basics with cooking and it is surprising what you can do/save and even enjoy And the up side is we are losing weight

[hillybilly]

And the up side is we are losing weight

every cloud, eh?!

[Scot]

OMG I hope this is seasonal. All my friends seem to be down in the dumps, struggling financially and I was sad yesterday too. I had a meeting with my sons teacher (first time we'd met) and I cried I felt really stupid but I had a bad day - I tried to go shopping at Carrefour. Not a good choice on reflection as my legs felt really heavy (a rare MS moment). Parked in the car park then just didnt have the energy to get round the store! I went back to the car and drove home. Set off for the local Lidl a few hours later so cupboards full and all well I need to keep happy and upbeat as I have two children here depending on me. They do not want to return to the UK so I push myself to keep everything as "normal" as possible but it is difficult as my OH is working in UK so we are all fragmented. We will all get through these hard times - but we need to keep our spirits up. Seems a good time for us all to arrange a boozy night out

[princess peach]

Home for me is where my Dad is,and my friends.
Although if i was home,i wouldnt see my Dad very often anyway as hes always working or out on his bike,he has his own life.I just miss him.
Most of my friends are in Spain anyway,as i have drifted away from the UK ones,only seeing them once a year,I find that we dont really have much in common anymore.
I am glad i posted this thread,as dispite all the bickering that goes on here,some of you i have seen in a totally different light(DA,being one of them),what you say is true and you speak total sense.
I cant find the right words to say to you,but thanks for your posts,they seem nothing but supportive.

If your husband has at least 2 years work lined up you would be silly to throw the towel in now as you would lose so much money making the move

Yes i understand what you mean Paula,but the job he does is very physical and wearing on the joints.He knows of nothing else to do work wise and isnt qualified to do any other work.So if we went back to UK he could train up to be an assessor,which means more money and not so physical for him.

[Paula]

Yes i understand what you mean Paula,but the job he does is very physical and wearing on the joints.He knows of nothing else to do work wise and isnt qualified to do any other work.So if we went back to UK he could train up to be an assessor,which means more money and not so physical for him.

The majority of people for the next however long, (who can put a timeframe to it) are going to be treading water. Few people are going to be making much in the way of money, most people are going to be cutting back in whatever way to stay afloat. Obviously the UK would hold an attraction in your position as there would be some help available financially if you needed it. I would think financial strain, and worrying about the future is making you feel vulnerable and concerned. But you do have a lump invested in your house, and moving to the UK and having to fund life there aswell as keeping your investment in Spain secure could be a big burden. On the bright side, you are obviously managing to pay your bills, OH has work for the forseeable future, and as already said you are both young enough to change plans, be it a quick stint back to UK for OH to gain more qualifications, or a fullscale move back. Sounds like the gaining more qualifications sounds like a good idea for the future wherever you plan to be.
Just don't make any unnecessary decisions that put your hard earned cash in your house at risk, unless you really need to, you're young enough to start again, but it does take time and hard work to get that sort of money back!

[Chrissie]

Hi Peachy! Paula's talking sound sense. Things are not that great in the UK at the moment. I know many people who have had their hours cut or been made redundant and new jobs are VERY hard to find. I understand how you feel though: when you're feeling vulnerable you always need family and your original roots back, no matter how integrated you are in Spain. I'm certain much of it has to do with the post-Christmas depression and the foul weather you've been having over there.
I hope you soon feel better - love from me X

[redsoxbrit]

How does your son feel about the prospect of returning to the UK, PP as this will have a bearing on your final decision? Also, maybe you have too much time on your hands? - how about getting a part-time job, doing volunteer work or even helping out at your son's school? By getting involved in something else it will take your mind off your worries for a while and you may see things a bit clearer

[Devils Advocate]

pp's comment about her husband and the toll the job may take was poignant and very understandable in my view.
I had a tough job which I trained 5 years for after leaving school but knew I had to get out of it before I lost a part of my body or suffered an injury which could hamper my future ambitions.
I got out in my late 20's and life changed for me with no looking back.

This fella seems like a hard grafter and things won't always be as tight as they are now.........he'd get a job in the UK just as easy as in Spain when you decided to move. Up until 9 months ago you'd get laughed at if you said "I need a scaffolder here tomorrow".........those times will be back shortly.
Only thing is with Spain is it's either building (and there's enough empty/unfinished properties to satisfy a resurgent market) or tourism, hubby probably would have a better chance to retrain in the UK if other guys we know over there looking for decent jobs are anything to go by.

Things in Spain will also impove shortly and once more your house will become a saleable asset to do with as you please, in the meantime as I said get yourselves in the mindset of selling it and gearing up for the move back, even put the b***** up for sale..........you will then not feel trapped as you then have an option I believe. You may then realise you really don't want to move after all as you've sort of called your own bluff (if I'm making sense ).

Don't forget to bring this thread back up in June and see how you feel then?
You'll probably have a big bronzie, free king prawn tapas and be taking the **** out of us lot in the rainy UK.

DA

[Paula]

Free king prawn tapas? Nah, restaurants will be too skint by June for free tapas, everyone will have to pay like us down on the coast

[Jool]

PP - I think also that the feeling of having been ripped off (as you were by the gas man visit) does leave anyone with a bitter taste, feeling vulnerable and thinking the grass is greener elsewhere..... I know it did for me when I was not paid money I had legally and legitimately earned and this always feels worse when its cold and sun is not shining and there is an air of grey everywhere, in people as well as light.

[Lavanda]

Read Ambrose Evans Pritchard in the Telegraph today. I'm not sure if ANYWHERE in the Western World is better than anywhere else right now ...

[katy]

Went into an Italian in Marbella last night, use it a lot. The starter we order to pick at came free, usually costs around 6E. Bill was still 65E for 4 for a modest pasta meal though.

Am in the UK today and enjoying lots of offers, OH tells me it has been 20+C on our Spanish terrace today

Seriously, although many say they did not move for the climate, the mood does improve when you are lazing by the pool again. Just seems the winters get longer!

[HKM]

Changing the subject slightly..

We had a meal in a restaurant in London called little bay, there are 3 of them and if you do a search you will find the website very strangely decorated but the food was fabulous and it was packed out, anyway..

I had Choux pastry spicy crab starter, oh had avacado and crab starter,
Main I had duck in some sauce and oh had goulash, 2 sides of veg,
2 white wines, 2 beers, 2 coffees..
£38 total...

So If anyone is ever near one of these restaurants.... GO!!

[Beachcomber]

When I first moved to Spain (and some considerable time prior) I was a fervent and dedicated Hispanophile and remained so for many years. My early posts on this forum were fiercely defensive of Spain, its traditions, bureaucracy, system of government, in fact, virtually everything including the legal system but with the exception, perhaps, of the people who practised within it.

Despite my leaning towards the right wing of the political spectrum I admired the socialist government of Felipe González and its crucial contribution to the transition of Spain from dictatorship to democracy.

However, during the past four years my enthusiasm has waned to the point of non-existence. I have come to detest and abhor the PSOE generally and Rodríquez the Cobbler and his puppet the Chav in particular with a passion that that I did not know I possessed as well as the havoc and destruction they have wreaked on the country and the region which they achieved long before the rest of the world went into recession.

The socialist crusade against the foreign population has filtered down through the bureaucratic levels to the point where I have come to dread having to deal with the likes of DGT, AEAT, DGP, etc. Previously one would have been unlucky to come across an unpleasant functionary once in a while, now finding a helpful one is a chance in a million.

Is it any better in the UK? Probably not, that's why I continue to choose what I consider to be marginally lesser of the two evils but I consider myself lucky that I have the option of choice and that I am not trapped here like so many unfortunate people for whom this country has become a prison rather than a paradise.