Spain in lockdown - Day 2

Well here we are on Day 2 of lockdown/quarantine.  It still seems to be taking time for people to get the hang of what quarantine actually means!  Still quite a few people wandering around this morning and I'm not entirely sure they're all there for legitimate purposes according to the regulations.......  Today the policia have been around the streets with loudspeaker announcements from a vehicle telling people to only go out if essential and I believe people have started being fined so we shall see.  If you are out, you need to carry ID and proof of address with you but as that's standard here anyway it's no big deal.  Apparently the fines are large and there is also the possibility of arrest and imprisonment.  I suspect that as visitors here are repatriated over the next couple of days, things will settle down.

Today the weather is very grey and we've had some rain so sadly no chance to sit up on the roof terrace in the sun.  Hey ho.  Instead we started the day with me tackling my gym instructor's Jump Rope Challenge and I did my own 30 minute Tabata class.  Ian joined in - I think he's got a level of respect for my gym classes now that he didn't have before! 😂 One of our dogs valiantly tried to join in which was so sweet and very funny.  

In terms of the stockpiling situation, people here only started buying things up over the last few days, much later than in the UK.  As of Saturday there was no rice, very little pasta but still some toilet rolls to be found.  Water is also very popular but we've dodged a bullet there by already having a Brita filter jug in an effort to cut our use of plastics so no worries. On Saturday we managed to buy a bad boy pack of 24 toilet rolls so think we'll prevail 😂

The rest of the day has been spent reading and watching TV.  The dogs have also had their toilet walks which we are both suddenly extremely keen to volunteer for!  I have just taken them for their early evening one and the port is like a ghost town - very spooky.  I saw only about 6 people.  And given that the weather is very grey and breezy it's surreally quiet.  Maybe the reality of the situation is beginning to dawn on people.

We'd started a major de clutter over a week ago so I did a little more today and will continue to do so in the spirit of positivity that we're determined to see this through with.  General news that all of this may take 30 days rather than 15 is not particularly welcome but nevertheless, it is what it is and we must make the best of it.  The British news bulletin has just been on the TV and mention has been made that this will all take a long time to go away.  And there has been a huge jump in diagnosed cases in Spain today (mainly in the Madrid area) together with the news of many more deaths in Italy today.  Tonight at 9pm we are being asked to shine torches/mobiles etc in honour of those who have passed away from coronavirus; I suspect we will also applaud again all those who are continuing to work so hard in our health services and rightly so.  

Stay safe and well everyone.  Hasta mañana!

Spain in lockdown - Day 1

Well, as the world is now well aware Spain has now gone into lockdown as of midnight 14 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.  So I thought it would be interesting to share a daily diary of life here during these interesting times.

So.....first off, this won't be overly difficult for me as I'm perfectly happy doing my thing at home.  For Ian, however, it will be more of a challenge as he's a social animal and enjoys a chat over a beer most evenings.  Only time will tell as to how we'll survive two weeks in such constant close proximity!  But at least we had a 'last drink' at new bar Meraki last night (in the square in PP, next to the still closed Bonys).  But we feel desperately sorry for the local businesses, bars, restaurants etc and how it will affect them 😢

To summarise, people must stay at home and only one person from a household to go out to the supermarket or pharmacy.  I believe launderettes/dry cleaners are also open.  One person can walk a dog/dogs and only be out for the minimum amount of time.  And car journeys can only have one person per car.  Essential journeys to work (obviously depending on your job) only.

Today, especially this morning, there were still quite a few cars and pedestrians (including groups) about as well as the ubiquitous cyclists.  It did make you wonder if people knew that the lockdown had been brought forward from 8am Monday morning to midnight Saturday or if they were just completely irresponsible and selfish.  But by the afternoon things were a lot quieter, hopefully police were making it clear that this is serious.  Certainly there are some interesting videos/photos on Facebook!  I feel sorry for the police who are doing a difficult job.  One video taken in Benidorm shows quite a few British tourists really getting stroppy with police as if this lockdown doesn't apply to them because they're on holiday.  Hopefully people will get the message that this is serious, real and does apply to everyone very quickly!

We're keeping things positive and I for one, am determined to make the most of this enforced stay at home.  This morning we watched some breakfast TV and then I walked the dogs, waving to friends on balconies as I did so.  Having dogs is a real bonus because it means one of us can get out for a short walk for doggy toilet purposes and we've already had one or two offers to 'rent' them out lol!  I managed to get a load of filing of teaching materials done which I've been meaning to do for ages which was very satisfying and we both read for a while up on our roof terrace.  At least we're housebound in the sun and such lovely surroundings.  Both of us spent some time on Skype calls to family in the UK and I then had a relaxing bath (well why not!), so relaxing in fact that I had a nap!   And finally we watched a film and some British TV, the dogs had a couple more toilet walks and here we are - bedtime!

One rather lovely thing is that tonight, for the second night running, everyone comes out onto their balconies/roof terraces or to their windows at 8pm and there's a round of applause for all the health services professionals for all that they're doing. 💝 And I believe from tomorrow it's also for the pharmacy and supermarket staff.  It's really moving hearing all the clapping and gives a sense of solidarity and unity that is rather beautiful.

Tomorrow is going to include the start of the Jump Rope Challenge, a fitness scheme created by Rachel at Simply Pilates where I go to gym classes.  More about this tomorrow. In the meantime, buenas noches to all 😴

Summer survival guide

Soooo...... our blog is back by popular demand which took me by surprise!  But many thanks to those who have been kind enough to ask me to resume activities so here we are!  We're still here 3 years in now and we're the middle of a very long, hot summer.  It hasn't rained for two months and water supplies are running low on the island.  Never thought I'd say this but I'm actually looking forward to rain but definitely not the 'dirty rain' which comes from the south and is full of sand and dust from the Sahara.  It makes cars, patios, garden furniture etc absolutely filthy and naturally 'dirty rain' always happens directly after you've washed your car.  The Mallorquins seem certain that we have another couple of weeks to go before the heat finally abates - here's hoping!

The heat has been pretty full-on this year which temperatures regularly in the late 30's!  The humidity has been extremely high and even the simplest of tasks leaves you dripping with sweat - always attractive lol.  On the basis of needing sleep we've treated ourselves to putting on the air-conditioning in our bedroom overnight which we barely used in previous years.  But we've done the sums and worked out that it costs us around 1€ per night using it on economy and that'll do nicely thanks.  For maximum effect we keep the door to the en- suite shut - the downside to this is that if you need, shall we say the facilities, in the night it's like walking into an oven.  And on return it's like entering a fridge.  Livens up most nights a treat!

For those of us lucky enough to be living in warmer climes abroad this is not the only issue relating to the summer season.  Another is the horror that is supermarket shopping while families from holiday villas/apartments wander happily around Lidl discussing in wonderment the fact that ketchup seems to be a universally available product or wondering out loud what is the different between 'pavo' and 'pollo' (turkey and chicken since you ask) despite the fact that there are helpful pictures on all their meat products.  They seem to do all this in slow motion and moreover in large groups.  Surely it doesn't take parties of several adults complete with shrieking and over excited children to do the shopping?  All the while those of us who live here are trying to navigate around them and get in and out as quickly as possible.  The best bit though is when you're in a queue at a till and then hear "Abrimos caja dos" (for example) and make the lightning move to till 2 ahead of those who only thereafter hear the English "we are opening till 2" - is it wrong to really love it when that happens?  Sorry......not sorry.  This pales into insignificance though when faced with a long queue at Eroski with holidaying families and huge trollies laden with holiday goodies in front of you only to realise that yep, they've been despatched back to the fruit and veg area to weigh and price all the items they should have weighed and priced already - this means a wait of at least 3-4 minutes even if they do it quickly.  This triggers covert eye-rolling and knowing glances between us locals I can tell you! 😶

In other news a certain B-word date looms large yet again and no-one living here has any idea about how it will really affect their lives.  There has been a great deal of useful co-operation by the Spanish government who naturally have no desire for UK citizens to leave as the economic consequences for Spain would be horrendous. However there is only so much they can offer by way of reassurance and so here we sit waiting......and waiting.......and waiting.........

Watch this space for more updates of our new life in Puerto Pollensa 😎 Hasta luego! 

Normal service has been resumed!

It has been quite a while since I wrote so I broke my promise at the end of my last posting 😳  What can I say - time flies?!  Sure does and here we are at the beginning of 2019 so Happy New Year!  One of my New Year resolutions - see more about this below - is to write more in this blog, especially inspired by a couple of lovely (and separate) people who asked when I would do so as they enjoyed reading it.  So.....here we are 😎 

Speaking of resolutions - should we really call them that?  They imply a pressure that I'm not sure any of us need in our busy lives, so perhaps we should call them intentions?  Aims?  Actually I think I prefer the latter as, to use a darts analogy, you aim at a target but if you miss you keep throwing those darts all the same.   Sooooo, in addition to my aim of writing the blog more often is another aim - taking up running.  My husband and I have started the Couch to 5k programme, great little app from NHS UK.  You get a choice of famous voices to coach you through but did I choose US athlete and now BBC sports commentator Michael Johnson?  Nope, I chose comedian Sarah Millican.  My thoughts were that she sounds cosy and non-athletic thus making the whole thing somehow more realistic.  Mind games it may be but let's see.  You can hear the app instructions over your music.  So if you see us out running we can't stop to chat as we're desperately listening for our timed instructions.  In any event, we're only in our first week but wish us luck!

My final aim is to keep on working at my Spanish.  This aim is work in progress and I'm pretty pleased with how it's going to be honest.  Each week I meet a Spanish friend Elvira and we chat for 30-40 minutes in Spanish and then change to English to improve both of us.  This is on top of my twice weekly lessons through the town hall as well as some study at home.  Spanish is fairly easy on a basic level, mainly because it is an entirely phonetic language and there are in fact a great many words that are almost the same in English eg perfecto/perfect etc.  BUT there are pitfalls.  Do not assume that all words that sound very similar to a word in English, mean the same.  For example 'embarazada' is tantalisingly close to the English word 'embarrassed'.  But if you say 'estoy (I am) embarazada' to explain your blushes, you may find embarrassment taken to a whole new level having told someone 'I am pregnant'......... for the record, if you wish to say 'I am embarrassed' try saying 'estoy avergonzado/a' instead.  Let's just say I found this out the hard way and leave it there shall we?  Made Elvira laugh though.......

In other news, we have now experienced the behemoth that is the Agencia Tributaria (Spanish HMRC) at its most intransigent best.  Suffice it to say the battle to persuade one particular department to write to us at the address we have provided them with is proving a challenge.  Not sure why they prefer to write to the lawyer in Palma who did our apartment purchase work 7 years ago but hey - we really do have nothing better to do than drive there each time to collect registered post. 

On a more local note, Puerto Pollensa is in winter mode but there are still bars/restaurants open and in fact some have stayed open over the winter for the first time eg. Centric.  And this weekend is the Three Kings fiesta when Spanish children receive their presents in the square.  All very festive and the Kings and their entourage throw sweets at you as the parade passes by.  This would never be allowed in the UK in case someone got hit in the eye or something, but I've described before the delightfully laid-back approach that the Spanish have to 'elf & safety.  Suffice it to say that here people are expected to use common sense.  I heartily approve, although watching Spanish builders/painters putting up scaffolding does make me wince a little as they merrily throw metal poles and planks around whilst cavorting happily on the increasingly high structure with nary a hard hat in sight.  

Until next month........hasta luego!

Things are hotting up.....

Summer is nearly here again (well that's what the calendar says, although the weather can't seem to make it's mind up!) and time has slipped effortlessly by.  So much so that I haven't written since last year and thought it was about time I did an update on observations of life here in Mallorca.

So first, the weather.  It's been a bit, well...... embarrassing lately what with the UK having some lovely days whilst here it's been grey, overcast and wet.  I mean who ever heard of a sunny and hot May bank holiday in the UK, never mind two?!  The locals though say that summer starts on May 40th.  Go on, think about it a bit........are you there yet?  They mean 9th or 10th June depending on how pedantic you want to be.  So Sunday is what I'm pinning my hopes on although currently there's a storm forecast......

We've been living here now for 22 months so here are some more observations on life in Mallorca:

•  If you're having an argument whilst driving - and let's face it who doesn't whilst trying to navigate to holiday accommodation in an unfamiliar car on the other side of the road with signage in another language after getting up at 2am for the red eye flight (not that this has ever happened to us...) - you could have your day enhanced by a fine of 80€.  The same amount will be applied if the driver is kissing a passenger - not something likely to happen in the above scenario 'tis true.  It will also apply if the driver is caught biting their nails which will only happen if the driver doesn't go where the navigator tells them..........!  And finally, using insulting hand gestures.  It's a good job this doesn't appear to apply to the navigator aimed at the driver but this will only happen if the driver doesn't go.......
• Another driving fine is driving without wearing a shirt.  Apparently this could diminish the driver's capacity to control the vehicle.  I would imagine this could only apply if the guilty party was female but it wouldn't be her car that wasn't properly controlled.....
• I think I've mentioned it before, but many toilets in cafes have a push button switch or movement sensor.  Beware, for this is a cruel joke on behalf of all cafe proprietors.  I was, shall we say, 'using the facilities' of a certain large cafe in the square here in PP and had been faced with a choice of a toilet that made an aircraft one look like an opportunity to practice a spot of freestyle dance, and one that, with a bit of luck and if a well behaved equine was to hand, was large enough to lunge a small pony in. Being close to 6' tall and not yet having mastered the ability to wee standing up facing in either direction, I not unreasonably opted for the large one.  Good choice.  Until about 15 seconds into the action when the light went out plunging me into total darkness.  Waving my arms in the air like I just didn't care wasn't going to help me as this was a push button switch and was about 15 foot away from me.  And I couldn't remember where exactly, just vaguely somewhere over to my right.  An added complication was that I hadn't properly located the loo roll either, just that there was one (there isn't always!).  Naturally it was necessary to finish what I started - cut me some slack, I've had 4 children! - and then to ponder my next move.  Which turned out to be - clutch your trousers so they don't hit the toilet floor (yuk!) at lower thigh level and scuttle in the general direction of the door hoping that you don't knock yourself out on it, also that you locked it properly in case someone reveals you in all you glory.  Still clutching said trousers with one hand, I felt around in the pitch darkness for the switch.  This took some time as the b*****ds turned out to have placed it at an unreasonably low level and about 4 foot away from the door.  I'm going to send this in to the Crystal Maze as a suggested task.  God help the team member who volunteers for it.
• Lidl is not a reliable provider of baked beans.  There, I've said it.  Out and proud.  We do still like baked beans and until last winter you could buy perfectly good ones at Lidl.  And then they stopped.  No apology, nothing.  So we turned to Eroski, a bit more expensive but of the 57 variety and we know how to live the high life.  And then, they disappeared off the shelves and have never returned.  Is this as punishment for Brexit perhaps?  We have now found how to get them but it's through a secret source so if I told you I'd have to kill you. Normal service has been resumed.
• Boats.  Lovely to be on.  Not lovely to own.  They say the best part about having a boat is when you buy it and when you sell it.  We can definitely confirm this to be the case.  We love ours but it's a constant source of worry mostly due to the weather but not exclusively.  The other day some thieving ******* decided they liked the look of our boat's brand new canopy and just unbolted and took it!  Mind you, going out on ours is a luxury that we never become complacent about and seeing this beautiful island's coast from the sea is just wonderful.  
  
  But boats are definitely a constant worry.  Even in the wee small hours of today three (so the reports say) boats caught fire in the marina.  This morning there are a few twisted bits of metal poking above the water and charred and blackened bits of boat all over the place with an overwhelming smell of fuel which is also all over the water.  Appalling for the owners and ecologically too.  All I can say is, good luck to the owners with their insurance claims - we have a boat claim (don't ask....no really, don't ask) in since September and it's still dragging on.  Insurance companies here are infamous for simply preferring that you would just go away and forget that your accident ever happened.  

In other news, I now do a radio show on Saturdays 1-3pm (12-2pm UK time).  From Nov to March I do the 3 hour Graham & Sarah Saturday Show with - you've guessed it! - Graham, but his work in the summer season means he's not available.  So I'm currently doing a shorter show solo.  If you've not heard of English Radio Pollensa then listen in on 107.9FM if you're in the wider Pollensa area or listen here:

http://vega.egostreaming.com/tunein/xmutfkis.asx
Or here for apple devices: 
http://eu.cdn.egostreaming.com/tunein/xmutfkis.pls
Or here for Android: 
http://m.app-egostreaming.com/mobile-ices.php…
Or here via the website: http://www.englishradiopollensa.com/listen.html

We have a Facebook page - look for "Graham and Sarah Saturday Show" and give us a like and/or follow and tune in.  It'd be great to have you along and you might win our weekly competition prize!  And if you want a request just let me know.  

Hasta luego!  I pinkie promise I won't leave it so long next time 😎

Things we have learned about life in Spain....

So, as we approach our second Christmas living in Mallorca, it seemed a good time to reflect on what have we learned about life here so far:

• Banks here still have local staff who get to know you as an actual person which is so much nicer than the sadly impersonal approach now so prevalent in the UK
• The weather here may be warmer in winter but most of the housing certainly is not!  You don't know cold until you've done the freezing dash to the loo in the middle of the night and my goodness that cold loo seat is daunting......
• Tapas are a thing of joy and beauty and when one appears on the table alongside your lovely big (and brilliant value) glass of wine, it's hard not to feel that the Spanish have definitely got the right idea.
• Gird your loins if you're going to engage in any way with the dreaded Endesa (electricity supplier) - you need the stamina of an Olympic marathon runner and the temperament of a UN diplomat.  You have been warned!
• Speed limits are apparently an indication of a minimum rather than a maximum limit.  This is made very clear by a car tailgating and then hurtling past in disgust at your evident inability to drive properly.
• Mosquitoes are at their worst in June and October as it's breeding time during those months.  Lots of remedies help but eventually your body seems to adapt and they don't bother you so much.  Mind you, some friends would disagree....
• Spanish lessons provided at nominal cost by the town hall are worth every penny and you have the added bonus of making lots of new friends too, as I've happily discovered.
• Police here look, on the whole, like film extras from Miami Vice.  I think it's the shades and chiselled jaws that do it.  I must say I haven't ever noticed this trait in UK police!  I haven't seen many female police officers here but the ones I have looked like a stand in for Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft mode.  Happy days all round whatever your inclination.
• The pavement that looks like a bar of chocolate (loads of small squares) is very slippery when wet, especially when wearing certain trainers.  Trust me, walking like a duck when all kitted up for the gym is not a great look.
• The non-electrical item that isn't sold by any of the Chinese shops hasn't yet been invented.  Fact.
• You know you're living in a hot climate when you put the air-con on at 26 degrees and it feels FREEZING. 
• The entertainment value to be had from a UK satnav pronouncing the names of Mallorquin streets/towns and insisting that the MA13 motorway is Massachusetts 13 should never be underestimated.
• Nearly every month contains a bank holiday/saints day which has to celebrated involving food, drink, family, music - the Spanish definitely know how to partaaaay!!!
• Cafe/restaurant toilets here very often work on a push button or PIR basis. The push button is usually set for 10 seconds plunging you into darkness mid flow.  Cue much fumbling to find the switch to re-press it.  Awkward.  The same can be said about the PIR which works by turning on the light by your movement as you enter.  Now I don't know about you but I'm not a great fidget whilst using the loo so, yes, back into darkness we go!  It is then a matter of waving your hands around in the air, like you just don't care........
• Next and M&S deliver to Mallorca - 'nuf said!
• Eroski sells Typhoo/PG Tips tea bags and Heinz baked beans.  This makes me very happy.  Sorry, not sorry.

In other news, I now co-host a radio show on English Radio Pollensa 107.9 FM on Saturdays between 1-4 (12-3 UK time) or go to the website www.englishradiopollensa.com and listen to The Graham & Sarah Saturday Show from there.  Happy to play any requests.  Life out here certainly seems to be offering some wonderful and unexpected opportunities so once a week I get the chance to indulge in my love of music and have great fun too.  Just waiting for the call from the BBC now.......

Not saying it's been easy, not saying it's perfect but - we love living here.  And here is home :-)

Ian and I (plus dogs Tally and Alfie) wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.  Hasta 2018!!!

Spanish life after one year :-D

So we made it.  We have passed the one year mark as permanent residents of Puerto Pollensa.  And what a year it's been!  We've variously bought a boat (actually two now...), experienced the Spanish NHS, moved to a different apartment, survived a ragingly hot summer and learned more about how to deal with Spanish plumbing systems than is probably normal at our age but hey ho.

In early September I returned to the UK for 5 days to see family.  It was an interesting exercise as I felt like I was going on holiday and certainly had a lovely time in weather that wasn't too bad all things considered.  Whilst there I compiled a little list of "Things I Like About Living in the UK" which is as follows:

1) No frizzy hair.

2) Marks & Spencer (I mean, it's not just underwear - it's M&S underwear).

3) Tailgating is the exception to the rule as opposed to the norm.

4) You never get parallel parked in so tightly that you actually cannot move your car.

5) Did I mention no frizzy hair?

6) Snuggling under a duvet which I haven't done since about mid May.

7) Understanding everything with zero effort (although in my defence Catalan is the local language as opposed to Castellano so cut me some slack here).

8) Fast internet/wifi, my god I'd forgotten how a good service makes using the internet a thing of joy and beauty (not to mention no stressy husband measuring the near death internet speed and registering a complaint to Movistar for the eleventy thousandth time).

9) Tesco Finest meal deals

10) Proper English breakfast tea in all cafes etc

11) Not sure if I mentioned it but my hair didn't frizz.

12) Historical properties/gardens etc - just a personal thing but I love a wander round a stately home/historic property/garden with a guidebook just soaking up the history, there's far less opportunity here in Mallorca.

13) Fried halloumi - delicious and quite the thing in the UK now it seems.

14) Most(ish) people scoop their dog's poop.

15) Sky TV packages.

However, despite all the above I still looked forward to coming home and home is now here 😊  The UK felt familiar and actually very nice and very comfortable but the only way I can describe it is that for me it is no longer enough.  That is not knocking the UK in any way, just a personal view.  So it seems we have successfully made the transition although Ian has yet to visit to UK so it will be interesting to see if he also feels that sense of 'home' when he gets on a flight back here.  

In other news.....we have acquired another boat.  For it seems that size does indeed matter 😉  Both in length, width and ahem! power.  We will sell the first one in due course but in the meantime the new acquisition is keeping Ian out of mischief.  Which is nice.

We have met so many lovely people since moving out here. Some live here, some visit a few times a year and some are here so often it almost feels like they live here.  And some we already knew but have had the opportunity to get to know better since we moved here.  So we have widened our horizons in more ways than just geographical - and it's been a blast.

Here's to our second year here being as successful, although perhaps a little less exhausting, than our first - salud! 🍻