Tricia

Hmmm.... 8 right out of 14, does that mean I can stay.

Tricia

Loco

I got 9 correct but am claiming 10 as the "correct" answer to question 14 is wrong.

After 4 years living here my conversational Spanish is still appalling and an embarrassment to me. I can however read Spanish quite well with great effort and I have went out of my way to learn about "Spain".

Therefore I guess I would score about the same as whilst I did not know in the UK test where the myth of Father Christmas came from I would be able to name the year Franco reestablished the Cortes in Spain.


Best

Loco

Loco

Fadesas sales model is to pay agents to flog CE to the English/Germans etc. They expect the agents to look after their clients that "invest" in CE pre and post sale. They are after all paying them very high commissions!

If you want to actually invest in Fadesa you will find they provide an amazing level of information in English at http://www.fadesa.es/index2.php?idioma=1

Best

Loco

Jon-Bxl

Hi
I hate mosquitos, and think the worst noise in the world is the one at of a mozzie flying about in the middle of the night, just as you have waved it away, and just gotten back to sleep the B****rd comes back!

Im often seen in the middle of the night, clutching a rolled newspaper, inspecting carefully the walls ceiling, face in a murderous scowl, ready to exterminate! Those Daleks left a lasting impression Or the easier kinder way clutching a large tin of spray! (not kinder on the mozzie who will DIE but on my poor suffering partner )

Can you tell me if they have already arrived? Does anybody know how bad the problem is in the summer?

Finally Steve - where will you get the screens from, please - this would be an essential for me... will you have them made up to fit, do DIY? If you have a contact please can you share it?
Thanks
Jon

Jon-Bxl

I got 10, agree with Loco, so am claiming 11! Having been out of my country for 10 years - I think they'll let me back to old blighty! Scary what proportion of the questions were about fighting/trouble at the pub .. (or Father Xmas!)

Here for all, below, is the first page of the Fadesa website - what a load of B******s

(Baloneys - of course!)

I can imagine a bunch of fresh faced graduates - or some expensive marketing firm coming out with the 'catch all' paragraph... after being secluded in a windowless room, with lots of blackboards, flipcharts, and coffee and stale sarnies!

When will they start doing it?

BEHIND A NEW WAY OF LISTENING,
OF UNDERSTANDING, OF PLANNING,
OF DESIGNING, OF MARKETING,
OF BUILDING, OF SHARING...
THERE IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF A GREAT COMPANY: FADESA

BEHIND OUR TRADEMARK
THERE IS OUR COMMITMENT TO SOCIETY,
TO PEOPLE, TO QUALITY OF LIFE

Yeah believe it when I see it!

Regards
Jon

jdr

I cant believe the lack of contact and news you get, they must have a special bin on the floor for enquiries that dont include money, mind you if you employ lawyers dont they get any info ?

KathandSteve

Hi Jon,

I would be happy to share the info with you but as I am wary of the reaction of some of the people who use this forum I will send it to you by PM so as not to be accused of advertising.

I cannot go without responding to some of the sarcasm that my comment 'basic english' has generated. I am trying to learn spanish and have the greatest respect for the Spanish people who I found helpful and friendly. There is a world of difference however from 'dos cerbezas por favor' to trying to obtain information about utilities, air conditioning and whether or not you can have an extra cupboard instead of a place for a dishwasher. I was surprised therefore that Conforta did not ensure that at least some of their staff did not speak English. It would surely be in their own business interests to sell more services to us Brits. I wonder if the sarcasm specialists headed for Paula, Sylvia or David when they dealt with Fadesa or whether they insisted on conducting the negotiations in Spanish.

Regards,

Steve.

MEL & JOHN

Kath & Steve and Andy C

Brilliant - so pleased that you have taken ownership and shared the good news with us all. It lifts our spirits, especially after the "planning" scare a few pages back.

We shall be out there to do our snag 6-10 April and arranged one "meet up" so if anyone else is in CE then we would be delighted to have a drink with you.

Jon bxl - John agrees fully with your manic reactions to mossies and his first priority is the screens so we would be grateful Kath if you could let us have the details on where to get these from please.

Re. Spanish. I hope to learn and those of us who have places out there should but it takes time and for now, as we are new to the country and Fadesa are selling to us, I also feel they should have people there who speak English. If 30% ( I think this is the % of Brit buyers) of my customers were Spanish and spending approx €100k plus each I would certainly have staff who were fluent in their language. Having said that the 3 people I have spoken to at Fadesa all spoke excellent English and hope they are there when we go to snag.

Anyway things certainly seem to be moving on out there so it's looking good for us all - Yipee !!!

Best Regards to all

Mel and John

Carol&John

Good morning, folks!
Re: mosquitoes.
I'm guessing the worse time of the year for mosquito bites would be early summer (before any drought)? Coto Donana, the marismas, and the nature reserve near Tavira (Portugal) are natural breeding gounds for them. I don't know why some people are targets for mosquito bites, whereas others seem immune. "Skin So Soft" after bath lotion from a door-to-door cosmetic sales company seems to be effective, so I have heard, in warding off the insects. Smells very nice, too!
I'd be interested as well in the screens, mosquito-nets over beds, plus overhead fans (to keep the air circulating). Aahh! Sounds like bliss!
Regards,
Carol

Andy C

Hi again
With regard to mosquitoes.
We had some in the flat during our recent stay . Betty is paranoid about them as they seem to particularly like her and she ends up with large lumps all over her. Its like waking up beside the elephant man. We bought a large can of Raid and sprayed everywhere before bedding down, so God knows what it will be like in the Summer.
Mosquitoe screens will be our first priority when next out. I understand that the garden furniture /sun shade shop down by the Ayamonte marina supply them.
There is also a good web site showing the different styles but I cant remember the full address. Try " mosquiteras"
Any other info on first line mosquitoe defence would be appreciated.
Cheers
Andy C

Tricia

Hi all

The shop you are referring to is Sol Canela ran by Beat and Rana (who both speak excellent English, Regarding the little blighters in general, I know that they have been very prolific for the last 2 Septembers (this year August also) but can honestly say when we visitied in April may June and July I did not find them a problem. I have heard of Avon skin so soft being very effective as already mentioned. My top tips would be not to expose yourself at dusk which is when they seem at their worst (play your tennis or golf earlier) /keep all bedroom doors shut from that time on and put the plug ins on (if they don't get in they cant eat you)/spray yourself before you go out.

Tricia

KathandSteve

Hi again,

We have a 2 bed apartment and have been quoted 286 euros from Conforta to fit Mozzi screens. However this does not include IVA nor does it include re-fitting any trim or tiles etc removed during the fitting. Also they do not have any examples to show you. Sol Canela screens are high quality and I have seen examples of houses where they have been fitted.

If anyone would like more info please PM me or send me an email on [email protected]


DONANA NATIONAL PARK (Sorry I don't have the spanish 'nya' on my keyboard.

We have just returned from a recce to one of the visiter centres 'El Acebuche' 125km from Ayamonte 100 of which are on the motorway, it took about 70 mins.

There are a number of beautifully maintained boardwalks (ideal for wheelchair users), spotlessly clean toilets and a nice gift shop and cafeteria.

I have all the info on guided tours and times etc if anyone is interested.

Steve.

marisol

thank you jdr. I think you are right.
regards,
marisol

CSR

Yes Graham - you can by them from Comforta from the shed. We have bought one for the shower room. It cost about 230 (can't remember if that was pounds or euros) which included fitting. I am not sure about the bath screen.

CSR

Jon-Bxl

Hi

"And the meek shall inherit the earth" the way things are going with Bird Flu viruses, pandemics, 'anti-biotic resistant bacteria', MRSI, re-emergence of resistant-TB, AIDS and blood thirsty insects everywhere - I reckon we're heading out and the 'little-uns' will get us in the end!

For those, like me, that hate mossies, and want to go down fighting, there is apparently another way to help protect oneself as well. Take a vitamin B complex, there are a couple of the B vits when taken together after a week or 2, do something to the body chemistry that make us less tasty to mossies (apparently). It certainly turns the urine bright yellow (I dont worry) - and they say that it helps the body fight stress, and after Fadesa (and late nights clutching a rolled up paper ready to kill mossies) - we all could do with some of that!

Im no doctor, this is an additional safeguard- which I hear reduces the chance of them biting in the first place. (When travelling in Malaria areas this is not enough of course. Certainly less biting = less discomfort, if nothing else). If it doesnt work, I dont personally worry about bright yellow-pee and extra vits in the system. (I can now 'write my name' and everyone can see )

So Betty (if I am right) has less unsightly bumps at least. Seems like in Spain a combination of the Avon so-soft cream and the B-vits may be an idea.

Although I do use them in the end, I try and avoid pumping chemicals in the air where I sleep, if possible. And the mosquito screens - I think are a must - that I never even thought of (or budgeted) till this thread. Something else out of the ‘other’ budget pot!

Thanks for all the feedback - does anyone know the exact name of this cream, and if it is ONLY available from mail order, or can one get it from eg Boots?

Thanks
Jon