I overheard a conversation in my local venta this evening - one ex-pat to another clearly talking about a client who has a holiday home here (chiclana). Said punter had asked ex-pat whether it was really all 'doom and gloom' here in Chiclana....cos' he had been reading the ex-pat forums and apparently that's the impression we give!!

So let me be the first to step up to the plate and say I'm bloody well ecstatic with my life in Chiclana. There's not one thing I'd change, I love it all!! Wouldn't change any of it for the world .. this is a great place..I love living here..everything I wanted and more.

p.s. Did I hear Steve McDonald of Coronation Street mention us while talking to psycho Tracy ....something about a trip to Spain to see his gormless brother where he said 'Madrid, Seville Chiclana'....Was I hearing things??(twice cos' I heard it again when listening to the Omnibus!!)

but it all depends on your circumstances here - are you retired ?

Coming here as a young family having to work can be all "doom and gloom" and not at all what people expect - so many expats we know have returned to UK for just this reason

Good for you Culchie! I think sometimes these forums can steer towards the negative. Have you read the SPI forum? Guarantee you will be slitting your wrists within the hour.

This one isn´t too bad though - there seem to be a few eternal optimists here (myself included!) to help balance things out a bit.

And me - yes its hard work and yes no benefits like unemployment money and governement paying your mortgage, but the lifestyle FAR outweighs that

Its wonderful here in Spain.

Off to the beach now to sunbathe!

No, I'm not retired. I have a job, I pay taxes etc. OH works away on seasonal basis.......all of which we knew before we came here...in other words we did our research and so gained exactly the lifestyle we wanted, no surprises except perhaps pleasant ones!

I think thats the key, research - not enough people do and end up being very disappointed

LUCKY DEVIL !

Yes but unfortunatley was joking! Still at work aklthough very quiet today

Got some furniture to remove in a little while then calling it a day!

What is the SPI forum?

It stands for Spanish Property Insight, but really it´s just a Costa del Sol problem page.

Being in Chiclana, you´ll find this forum a lot more relevant to your needs.

I don't understand what the problems are living on the Costa del Crime as I lived there from 1989 until 2002 and was alway's in work, that is if you are prepared to work ... and there is a big difference what you want in life

There was and alway's will be plenty of work on the Costa del Crime, if you are a tradesperson you have no problem at all, and if not you might not like the work that you have to do but you can alway's earn money to keep the wolf from the door, and as someone else has previously stated life here is grand

Right in Big John,

As long as you are prepared to work (if you have to ) then no worries.

Done my removals, gosh my arms ache now, have a coffee and brandy, now chopping wood for the fire, tv on and gonna eat soon.

CSI on the tv tonight - life just gets better!

Is that forum still on the go? I used to enjoy reading some of the bar room lawyer posts on there, but recently when trying to access the site I just get the "not found" message.

Yes it is, Im posting on there as we 'speak' Good forum very informative and more serious. I love this one for the crack!

Spot on M8