"Most posters here" know FA about Spain?
Now who was here just a few weeks back trying to make out coffee was normally 2 Euros in Spanish bars?

We all have a status, some living in Spain, some not, some thinking of living in Spain, some thinking of going back, some who have already lived in Spain and left, some originally from Spain to UK and back to Spain.
Some who will never live in Spain, but have a holiday home.

All will have differing opinions, comparisons will always be made between people on a forum. But why compare the UK with Spain?

Easy-
Because most have experience of both countires, so we will compare, how do we know that red tape is a nightmare in Spain if we have not been through it in the UK.

How do we know that buying a property is a lot more hassle in Spain, if we dont relate it to what we know.

could some say the health care is better in Spain or whatever if they were not at least mentally comparing it with the UK.

people write that pensioners are better off in Spain, usually compairning to UK, same for bin collection.

I personally would rather read posts that have some reasoning to them than some of the "talk up Spain"post that are thrown about on here.

They are the posts that I find more conflictive, the ignorant saying how well off Spanish pensioners are, and how well treated that pver 55s because they get 400 odd euros a month.

That is what I find annoying, that incomers who arrive from a priveledged position argue against what the Spanish people say and are suffering everyday in every town and village all over Spain.

Most of those type of poster havent got a clue, a bit like the queen thinking that the world smells of fresh paint.

A good discussion with well written differing opinions is what keeps forums alive, and if some of the posters who debate heatedly have a different status to the usual for expats, ie living in a foreign country, so be it.
I include myself in that description.

Stevie, I could answer that but would be banned, Infact suprised I am not banned for putting on some negative (true) news about Spain. If it aint in the UK you don't want to know.

Got that dreem job in madrid yet Stevie. And why aren't you out enjoying the delights of madrid

Oh BTW there is a fairly negative list in Diario sur today about bankrupt ayuntamientos, will post it when I get around to it.

A fairly bland link has certainly rattled a lot of cages...what are you afraid of, can't you like it warts an' all or do you have to think it's all perfecct

I think that a lot of people, having made their choice of where to live, do not like to face the facts that where they have chosen isn't perfect.

That applies just as much to those of us in Spain as it does to those in the UK.

Wherever you go, you be affected by where you have come from, what you experienced there and what you then experience where you end up.

I have spent a long time drumming into my children that one should never,, but NEVER look for a perfect place to live, a perfect xmas, a perfect partner and so on.

Where I am isn't perfect, and doesn't have perfect weather. In all the time we have been here, the only incompetent idots have been couries who can't deliver, and one or two people who aren't willing to speak that bit slower to a foreigner doing his best with the language, but just hang up.

Apart from that, everyone is either very friendly or at the least polite.

It may not be perfect, but it's close enough for me.

Jacky, very few people who live, or have lived in Spain recognise your descriptions. Well the ones who post that is.
Most of us know that Spain is a big country, and that lots of things are different from province to province. I can quite believe you when you stated coffee was 2 Euros in your Marbella holiday complex. It's when you try and speak as an expert on Spain (and mock others for knowing "FA about Spain") that it grates - you obviously know very little in certain areas, even if you did own your properties out there for 15 years.
As it happens most places in Madrid currently seem to charge 1.20 or 1.30 for a coffee, although I did get stung for 1.50 in Gambrinus! So I quite believe all the other posters here who state they can buy a coffee for 1 euro in their village bar.

Nothing wrong with that Bil I just think if you really care about a place then you want to discuss the good and bad but perhaps it's just me. I also post on digital spy and there is no-one more outspoken than me about things that are wrong with the UK.

Anyway, here is the link I promised...close your eyes the ones who are easily offended Sort of backs up that the Independent wasn't exaggerating

http://www.diariosur.es/20111108/loc...111081711.html

Nothing wrong with speaking for and against a place. Shows you aren't blinded to its faults. Both countries have faults. That's life.

You're slipping - I actually agree with most of that. Good post.
But I'm afraid if I see good news, or prospective job creation links (like the "Madrid to be new Las Vegas") I will link to it. That's the difference - you've worked hard and made your dosh and yet prefer to knock the place you now live in - you're obviously a little unhappy, and I can understand that if you know people who are suffering. I prefer to spread a little hope. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's just the way I am.

Why do you always comeout with that crap, cant you discuss like a grown up,instead of coming out with infantile posts like that.

I dont prefer to knock the place that I live in, but I think the places I live in Spain are a fair example of what is happening all over the country.

And lets face it Spain has not been as good to you as it has to me, but I am not blinkered, and you with your mostly misplaced euphoria is not a true picture for a great number of my countrymen.

I am very aware of the advantages I have had over a lot of people who never left Spain, and I thank my lucky stars everyday that we did, or I might have endedup in the same position as a lot of people I see everyday, just scraping by.

Most posters on here cannot understand the feeling of people who were forced to relocate to another country as opposed to those who do so out of choice.

My own children dont have the same outlook as me or my parents, they see the sunnier side, because they are not really interested in the "reality"in Spain. They see second cousins and other family member struggling but it does not sink in.

They airbrush the negative out, it could be that they are a bit ashamed of what their roots are on both sides of the family, because a lot of my wifes lot and mine, are not exactly having it easy, and to be honest have never had it easy even before the crisis.

Probably they are somewhat spoilt,

To them they see Spain as a holiday,fun place, for a bit of R & R, they then return to their own life in the UK, they see what they want to see.

That is the impression that a lot of posters give out, you being one of them, the Marie Antoinette syndrome.

Maybe that is why I feel the need to "tell it like it is", because I am only one generation away from the hard daily grind just to put food on the table.

Absolutely correct. It's absolutely stupid the amount of power wasted by lighting deserted streets at 4am.

And see a night photo of any major city. Are all those full lit offices really in use all night?

Why the hell should us little folk bother with turning off a few low energy bulbs in the face of such profligacy?

Have you ever read back the realms of personal abuse you give to CM? Pot meet kettle.

Typical

You two are the same person

Can I accuse you of being Aggie's sockpuppet?

Where is CM by the way? Did you lot get him banned?

Dont be such a big ninnie, I dont go crying to the Mods.

And you can accuse me of what you want............I dont give a monkeys,