Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

I feel exactly the same when I visit my home town of London...it hits you big time.

Having said that after moving to the countryside in the UK with hills, views and farmland, nature, bird song and clear roads, fresh air and space it reminds me very much of Spain....even Spain has its seasons, a comfortable spring or autumn in Spain is like a idyllic summer in the UK......I quite like walking in the drizzle on a bright day.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

I always tell people I get summer all year round. After all, winter here is quite like summer in the uk.....:rofl:

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

I share your feelings exactly!

I ventured back after about the same amount of time, only for nine days.
I found the whole experience quite depressing, as you say people don't smile and they don't really have much to smile about.
I guess at some point this year I shall have to do a duty visit as it's two years since my last one, but I know now that I shall be more that happy when I board the plane on the return journey back here to my home.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

Depends where you live....living in the hills can be 5 degrees lower than on the coast.....driving half an hour and the weather can be completely different...to be honest I would rather be in the hills than close to the N340 and the traffic and concrete of the coast.

Another thing the quality of build does not cater for colder weather, no cavity walls, carpets etc also there is not the gas central heating.

Even on the south coast in the winter extra heating is required especially if the property is not south facing, and once the sun goes down it can be quite chilly....the last two years there has also been a lot of rain. So yes Spain is very good generally for its weather but the weather is by no means guaranteed. Anyway people who only buy for the weather are not really buying for the right reasons.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

Much the same as any country it all depends where you are.
I'm very content in a pleasant,peaceful spot here,Springtime or Autumn, but I wouldn't live in either a Spanish or English big city for all the tea in China.
When I returned to the UK last Summer I couldn't even make it from Plymouth to the N.E. in one day. The traffic jams were a nightmare and I ended up stuck somewhere near Manchester for one night.
However when I got back everything was tickety boo, lots of open spaces and nice countryside, even the weather was reasonable for a while and much more comfortable than the excessive heat of the Spanish mid-summer.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

True, but for many of us pensioers, who came out to Spain when the Euro was 1.50 to the £, we lost a lot of spending money when the exchange rate crashed to just over 1 euro top the £, it isn't anywhere near what it was 5 years ago now. With the uncertainty of knowing what we would receive each month made us decide to return, we are certainly as well off here as we were theere, and we don't have to 35+ degree temps to deal with on a daily basis for 3 months of the year.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

However crap the Mail maybe (although many on here seem to believe it when they slag off the UK:rolleyes:) there is a lot of truth in the article. People living in Spain would have to be very rich not to notice the effect of nearly a third drop in income from the UK. If you are honest, it is clear that many British are trying to sell up. Some from lack of work to (one I know) whose Husband died and his sizeable company pension died with him. Not only that she had to use savings to pay off the inheritance tax.

There has always been 2 way traffic between Spain and the UK. Just seems worse now as a lot are trapped so the reality of being able to move back has ground to a halt. Many have bought properties that are unsellable except for a pittance due to glowing reports from the Mail, Telegraph etc.
You could say the DM is all doom and gloom but they spent about 5 years talking up the spanish property market.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

I think the difference is, the majority heading for Spain tend to be middle/old aged, and the Spanish that are leaving in huge numbers tend to be young, well educated professionals seeking employment and medical professionals. Spain is losing a lot of talent, some will return, but once they get a taste of the wages in France, Germany, UK, USA etc a lot have no intention returning.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

Now their so-called experts say it will be another five years, 2016, before house prices bottom out.
If they are to be believed then it's still silly to buy even at todays apparently attractive prices and they are continuing to talk the market down even further. :unsure:

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

Like I say, the DM and others will talk it up, then break it down.

As for high temps, I would rather have a good hot summer and a mild winter than the more temperate, grey climate of the UK. However, if you are a 'winter' person, I can see it would appeal.

Altho walking in the drizzle, that I can't grasp as a pleasant thing......

Me I'm a summer person. The summers here are fabulous, and intelligent planning reduces the effects of high temps. As for cold winters, well, we find that a woodburning stove copes very nicely thankyou.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

The thing about 'waiting another five years' is that you will then be five years older. Which, if you are in your twilight years, rather takes a chunk out of your retirement.
The thing to do is to buy something when you are ready and you need it. Don't wait until you have wasted five years just so you can say 'I bought at the bottom' - then drop dead the following morning!

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

will you lot stop worrying about house prices, the weather, how terrible the UK is and defending why ypu live in Spain.

I have a place in the UK and Spain and love both countries. It's not a contest as to what's best.

It's about what suits you.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

Well it'll be interesting to see how it turns out. I've known various Spanish who've spent time in the UK over the years (Midlands, Oxford and London), and the ones around 20 or 25 have always gone back to Spain. The last couple were around mid twenties - she had a high paying pharma-biological job, and he was just here for a year to improve his English. Now, they may be the exception, as the bloke had a graphic design job (websites) to go back to, and she managed to get another job in her profession, but if the "taste of the wages" was paramount, they wouldn't have gone back (to Navarra as it happens). Now I have also met quite a few Spanish who settled in the UK, in their 50s or above now. For some reason they were always Gallegos with the exception of a couple of elderly Madrilenos I knew (who'd ended up here during the Franco years). Perhaps they preferred the UK climate ;)

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

Touch wood I seem to have timed it about right.
First week back,beginning of Feb,quite pleasant daytime but bloody freezing with frost at night. Second week a tad better.
Now it getting to late evening and I'm sitting with the door open and outside temperature is as good as inside,a few Spring flowers showing and the lizards are now active on a night, keeping the mut busy trying to catch them.

Re: Ah! The Daily Mail
 

I agree, and who gives a toss what the house prices do if your happy where you are with a roof over your head. Everything costs money, so if you paid a little over the odds, so what enjoy it.

As for going back to the UK, well if that takes your fancy OK, but don't go back and expect petrol to be any cheaper, But you can expect grey skies though.

IMO ya might as well be skint in the sun as skint in the rain.:eek: