Back from Spain

[Mel39]

and glad to be so.

Whilst the weather in the UK was warm and sunny, on the Costa sin Sol, it was cloudy and gloomy. Only two sunny days out of eight.

So the weather was crap and so was the hotel. It catered for senior Spaniards who acted like they owned the country:-D

The only good thing was the Estanco con Cava, which was just around the corner on Calle St. Miguel, Torremolinos.

The drag was though that prices were not dissimilar to the UK. In fact almost the same whilst cigarettes were very much cheaper. I don't understand that.

Even the duty free store at Malaga airport charged 40.50 euros for a pack of five Siglo 1's.

I did think of hopping over to Gib or Ceuta but was so pithed with the weather, I was hoping to get in a sunny day to relax in and didn't want to miss one. Many days started off really sunny but by midday turned cloudy and it rained on a couple of days.

So no photos, I'm afraid Colt, there really wasn't much to show off.

Apart from Bingo almost every evening in the hotel, the last night did have a Flamenco troupe that wasn't bad and because I got in early to grab a seat near the front, before the grannies had finished their all inclusive meal, I got pulled on to the floor to show myself up in front of all. That in fact was my highlight of the holiday.

Had to come home as an Agency has given me a couple of weeks work. My previous part-time job was working afternoon/evenings and now I have a 7am start for a fortnight that isn't doing my system any good. It also means that I can't have my first smoke of the day until I get home around 3pm.

Also stuck for a delivery address for my cigars now as I don't know when I'll be at home in future and I don't want the warden of my local authority dwelling seeing my smokes. So ordering is on hold for the present. Life is sucking at the moment.

Plus my son and heir has now immigrated to the States. His girlfriend lives in Dallas but he skyped me from Miami in the week and said I'd love it. I could possibly manage on my UK Stte Pension living in the US but getting a visa is nigh impossible. My son Adam has a 10 year business visa but can't sponsor me until he has residency.

Any of you American guys want to adopt a 68 year old son?

I toyed with moving to Mexico but am advised that renting somewhere to live might be difficult and speaking Spanish would really be a necessity.

Limbo is not a good place to be.

Apologies for this downer post but one has to stay in contact with buddies in order to remain sane.:-(

[Colt45]

Mel, welcome back!

Sorry the trip was not as you'd have liked - I hope you at least were able to enjoy some good

Spanish wine. Have you really looked into moving to the U.S?

[Mel39]

» Mel, welcome back! Have you really looked into moving to the U.S?

Poop! Don't you just hate it when you spend ages writing a response and get logged out because of the time taken!

So it will be more concise now Colt.

Yes, seriously, Adam and I are close because his mother and sister have disowned him because of his closeness to me.

He is able to run his several business interests in the States and is now serious with his very attractive girlfriend who is Puerto Rican but lives in Dallas. They are both in Miami at the moment and loving it.

He is keen for me to go somewhere like that as I enjoy the sun.

He said just get a visa and come on out. That's easy for him as he doesn't mind travelling with a backpack whereas I have to think what I'll do with my wine cooler full of smokes:-D and looking at Visa requirements, I don't qualify. Yes, I could get a six month visa, a B2 but if you try that too many times, it would be rumbled and any idea of a future visa would be seriously jeopardised.

The UK really sucks now and I'd love to get away.

The "open door" policy of the last ten years or so has meant immigration has got out of hand and seriously affects our health service, education, housing and criminality. Multiculturism isn't working and the latest input will never integrate.

My UK pension is around £670pm and impossible to live on whereas $1,300 could provide for renting and living in the US. Adam's gf has been living on Daddy's allowance of $1,000 while she has been at University.

So yes, seriously thinking......

regards,

Mel

[trumpetchris]

Sorry Spain was a downer. If you get over to the States, we'll have to have a get together. I don't think my status as a single student making under 20k a year will let me adopt, sorry mate.

[Jimmy2]

Mel we have a place for you always at Havana Dreams ..:-D

[Mel39]

» Sorry Spain was a downer. If you get over to the States, we'll have to have

» a get together. I don't think my status as a single student making under

» 20k a year will let me adopt, sorry mate.

Cheers Chris.

One day, I'm sure you will be the new Wynton Marsalis.

A musician was lost in NY and asked a guy "how do I get to Carnegie Hall?"

"Practice brother, practice" came the reply.

You can't beat the old'uns.

[Claudius]

How ironic, being from the UK, going to Andalucia and getting bad weather

Not sure how you'd like Miami as an (almost) old European guy. The land is beautiful, but a lot people there dont even speak English, or very badly so. Not what you'd expect when going to the USA...

Andalucia is usually nice weather, housing is still reasonable in some areas. Food is good, life is relatively cheap (about half of the cost of living of the UK)... but the land LOL Ever driven from Sevilla to Malaga? Veldt, like driving through a desert!

[Mel39]

» How ironic, being from the UK, going to Andalucia and getting bad weather

Ever driven from Sevilla to Malaga?

» Veldt, like driving through a desert!

Not only bad weather Claudi but England was bathed in hot sunshine.

I wish I hadn't watched Sky News on satellite TV which caused me to sink further into depression. I had never had such bad weather in my many visits to Spain.

I don't drive but had travelled through Spain in my hippy days and appreciated the differing landscapes which are more diverse and interesting than the UK.

[El Presidente]

» I toyed with moving to Mexico but am advised that renting somewhere to

» live might be difficult and speaking Spanish would really be a necessity.

»

» Limbo is not a good place to be.

» Apologies for this downer post but one has to stay in contact with buddies

» in order to remain sane.:-(

Mel you can live well in many parts of the world on what you have stated. The problems are always Language, healthcare and personal safety.

Personally, I love the idea of 6 months in the UK and 6 months in the US. Alternatively, 6 months in a beach house of Nicaragua or Panama and 6 months in the US.

If you have no attachments in the UK you have a rare freedom. Pick up a a few Spanish tapes and you are away. Do some research...head to central America and if nothing more....learn Spanish for 6 months. Sit down with your son after that....ignore him....and make your decision for the next couple of years.

[brooklyn]

Mel

Rob's idea is functional. I would try Nica,Panama,and the Costa Rica for the money. Panama offers top notch health care as does Costa Rica.

Feel better.This too shall pass.:-)

[smokum]

The glass is half full Mel...go for it.

[Mel39]

» The glass is half full Mel...go for it.

Cheers guys,

your comments are appreciated and will be taken into consideraton for future decisions.

Mel39