Living alone in the Canaries

[antelope]

Hi all.

I divorced some 8 years ago [I'm now aged 52] and have stayed in the UK merely to be near my sons. They're getting older now so I'm starting to look for a new life. I was originally raised in Zambia and so long to get back to a more tropical climate. Africa is too difficult as a long term destination for many reasons though, and I'm looking at Crete and the Canary Islands at the moment.

I'm hoping someone might be able to give me a genuine and frank appraisal of what life might be like there given some key criteria that apply to me; A/ I remain single, B/ my career dissolved some years ago. I used to work in IT and telecoms but no more, and no wish to return. C/ I'm trying to write a book about sustainable development D/ With this in mind, I need a modest, quiet place to live, preferably near the sea and with a second bedroom for a visiting son to stay in D/ I'd like a local bar/social venue 'where everyone knows my name' E/ I'd ideally like some sort of modest income..I make a dangerous living trying to trade shares at the moment. F/ With this latter in mind, I need good broadband where I live. G/ lastly...how to put this...I enjoy the company of people whom some might regard as bohemian..certainly people who are interested in the state of the world and how it might evolve

Sorry..a longer list than I'd expected. Trying to give you a picture of who I am..probably saying too much as usual! This move would be about seeking and starting a new life. I can't rely on getting the book published, and so would like to know that, with genuine commitment to staying there, there might be at least some chance of longer term employment available to me. I would make the effort to learn Spanish [it's surely only polite], would like to learn to sail and have a masters degree in Natural Resource Management together with other environmental related qualifications, although I've yet to have the opportunity to use them in employment. I tend to live quietly and in my own space, but do need company occasionally [hence the need for a friendly bar].

Given this sketchy outline of me and my objectives, does anyone have an opinion as to whether or not I'd be likely to make a go of things in the Canaries? There are four main islands in the Canaries..which is/are the best to settle on? How much cash per month am I likely to need as a minimum? Is employment more likely to be obtained via other expats? Anything else that might be pertinent? [like has the place already got its fair share of middle aged Englishmen who've fallen off their perch thank you very much! ] Any experiences or anecdotes by other men in a similar position? Would Crete be a better bet? Or another greek island? Do I perhaps have rose tinted specs on when considering any of these options as I know things aren't good economically in tourist elated parts of Europe at the moment? Would the Spanish Mainland be a wiser option?

Many thanks for any responses and advice.

David

[Leam_Lin]

Welcome to the forum David.

I'm from down the road to you Leamington Spa. Tenerife for me is great for holidays, but Warwickshire for me is a better base.

[cainaries]

Hi David and welcome to the Forum.

I have NO idea if this will help you but .. we recently met a German guy who was on holiday here on La Palma (so a minor Canary Island but this isn't altogether my point). He came out for a month just to see if he liked it here. He`s a little older than you and divorced for longer, indeed brought up his children more or less on his own. He's taken early retirement for health reasons. He decided he did like it here and has now arranged to rent a place for a year and see how things work out. He is renting out his home in Germany and will gain enough monthly from that to cover his costs here. This is a kind of fluid arrangement that might end in a year's time or might go on for a long time. His big plan for his year here is to concentrate on learning Spanish.

However, if you aren't in the position to support yourself by renting out your home in the UK, then this isn't such a helpful story. My pòint really is why not come out for a month or three and see if you like it. It's going to be hard to tell if it is better or worse than Crete for you unless you have been and had a look at both places.

[Nikita]

Hi David,
Do you ever feel, life is just to short to sit on the side lines, And Think , If Only?, You are the only one that make the commitment, and if your
not 100% sure then please dont, you really need to think long and hard, Maybe go over for a month and test the water, see if you like it first.
If you need company im free, after 32 years of living with my partner, I can be a bit hormonal though hun, Its me age I've been told .
Good Luck in what ever you decide hun.

Nickita, Aged 50 and a 1/2, depressed now, If only i could turn back time.

[Simon-M]

The weather is better here than Crete. Crete is skint. Tenerife is Skint. So whereever you go, make sure you have money to support yourself and the fare home.

[candy2411]

Hi antelope, I would say try whichever destination you choose or maybe even both.You could maybe have a 3 month trial in both Crete and the Canaries, though I would think the winter in Crete would be dire and as you indicate the climate is important to you this is surely a major factor.

Would suggest you base yourself away from the busier areas as the only people you'll meet will be holidaymakers on a week or two week turnaround and this could turn out to be a lonely existence.Far better to integrate into a community where you get to know the locals. Most people are very friendly I find, much more so than in the UK.....must have something to do with the warm weather and sunshine methinks!

Good luck with whatever you decide and let us know how you get on:goodluck:

[Red Devil]

Hi antelope, I would say try whichever destination you choose or maybe even both.You could maybe have a 3 month trial in both Crete and the Canaries, though I would think the winter in Crete would be dire and as you indicate the climate is important to you this is surely a major factor.

Would suggest you base yourself away from the busier areas as the only people you'll meet will be holidaymakers on a week or two week turnaround and this could turn out to be a lonely existence.Far better to integrate into a community where you get to know the locals. Most people are very friendly I find, much more so than in the UK.....must have something to do with the warm weather and sunshine methinks!
Good luck with whatever you decide and let us know how you get on:goodluck:

Although I have no ideas regarding an income, I would definitely recommend the Canaries as a place to live- the year round beautiful climate alone is what draws so many people here.

Personally, after visiting most of the other islands first, Tenerife is the one for me, can't explain why but it just has everything I need.

It has the gorgeous beaches, lovely quiet villages,, spectacular landscape, very attractive towns, especially up North, and everything easily accessible by efficient public transport, plus of course regular flights to most of northern Europe.

I agree if you are in the centre of holiday resorts you are surrounded more by holidaymakers rather than residents, but the Oasis del Sur area of Los Cristianos for example, is a quiet area of the town with plenty of permanent or long term ex pats from all nationalities, but still within walking distance of local buses or 20 mins walk into town itself.

Another good choice is El Medano, further along the coast, or Las Galletas, Los Abrigos if you need more of a local feel.

Tenerife is the type of place where I feel quite safe, even if on my own, walking about and generally enjoying life at a more leisurely pace and would have no hesitation about living there full time.

You can live/eat as cheaply as you want to, with plenty of tapas bars - there are still plenty of fiestas etc on a regular basis that gives you more of an insight into the Canarian way of life and everyone seems to enjoy life more somehow.
Even in a shop or bar someone will usually start a conversation about something!

Dont know about other places but the Cultural Centre in Los Cristianos seem to offer plenty of courses on many things, believe there is an English library and many sports clubs you can join should you so wish.
Obviously learning Spanish helps a great deal but in most places along the south coast resorts there would be no language barrier anyway.

Agree though about renting for a few months first and keeping your own property on in the UK if that is possible, who knows what will happen with the Euro etc in the future.

[Margaretta]

The North...that's where you need to be for a more Bohemian, colourful and artistic atmosphere. If you can, rent a place in Puerto de la Cruz or La Orotava. I think you can do more there as it is a tad cooler and much greener and prettier. I do find that when it is excessively hot it is hard to be motivated if you need to work and Crete, although a stunning island, is boiling in Summer. But as with others, I would suggest staying for a while, getting your Bono bus card and travelling around and over the island to really get to know it and to give yourself time to think.
There are walkers, nature lovers, enthusiasts for everything on the island and the Forum is here 24/7 to cater for all concerns, queries and companionship.

I would say to you and Nikita: you can't turn back the clock but you can create one helluva good time for the future. Go for it but source funding for your preliminary research. Good luck and please let us know how you are getting on.

[antelope]

Wow. A lot of really helpful replies. Thanks.

Spending a few months there would be a great idea..except that I don't own a house here [lost all that in divorce!] and so would have to either maintain my rented cottage here at the same time, which would be very expensive, or I'd have to abandon it...which would be a real hassle upon return. However, you're right. Maybe I could manage a month.

Leam_Lin...Warwickshire's fine. But I'm bored with it. Pubs around here are generally poor, and there's little else to do. And forget it if you're a middle aged, single bloke, especially one without a house of his own! I want a more exotic and stimulating place, certainly in terms of climate and landscape. The UK generally is an expensive place to live. Seven or eight hundred quid a month just to rent a modest place, plus all the taxes, and more than three quid a pint. I feel as though I'm running to stand still all the time.

Nikita, I'll buy you a drink if I make it out there!

The economic aspect is worrying. I'm not sure why so many tourists are staying away from Greece and Spain. It seems counter intuitive as they must be cheaper destinations than they were. Mind you, there's not a lot of spare cash floating around this country either. For me a bigger concern is that I'd have nothing to come back to here, which is why I'd have to commit, and see it as a long term, pretty well permanent move.

Anyway, many thanks for all the feedback. Time to consider finances.

Cheers
David

[bardofely]

David, I sound very much like you. I am single, in my 50s, writing books, would be regarded as Bohemian, etc. I live in a rented apartment in a small village in the north. I can tell you that a lot of the time over the past few years it has been a real struggle financially, and I have often considered going back to the UK if I could. I haven't because I have a cat and it costs more than 500 pounds just for a one way flight for her! My main problem the whole time I have been living on the island is getting enough money in each month. The happiest I have been is when I had regular work. I hate getting behind with my rent and not even being able to afford bus fares but this has happened a lot over the past couple of years. Yes, I recommend Tenerife as a wonderful place to live but you need the money, and in my experience it is very hard to get permanent or regular work.

[antelope]

Cheers Bard. Trouble is, unless you have a house here, what's there to come back to? Have you forgotten what an average UK town or city is like in February? And it's seriously expensive here, with high levels of unemployment also. If you're unfortunate enough to have to claim dole..it's a pittance.

Take your point in employment. I've just noticed a headline that says unemployment there is now running at about 33%. A third of all people! What are the prospects for self employment? Not sure what...sail mending for yachts...bee keeping and export the honey...there must be something. Maybe I could work as a male escort to single ladies visiting on holiday!!

[bardofely]

I live on a pittance here so there's not much difference in living on it in the UK as here except the weather is usually a lot better in Tenerife. I have claimed benefit before in the UK and I know it is a miserable life doing so. I would be going back to rented accommodation there and have people trying to convince me it would be an advisable move and others saying stay where I am. I originally came over here looking to start a new life and all went well enough for the first few years but then the jobs I had went and new ones became a lot harder to get. I can tell you that being fluent in Spanish is a big help and I am not, but having said that I know people a lot younger than myself who are bilingual or even with a third language and they cannot find regular work here. Given the choice of just about getting by here or in the UK I would choose Tenerife though.

[curlytop]

Cheers Bard. Trouble is, unless you have a house here, what's there to come back to? Have you forgotten what an average UK town or city is like in February? And it's seriously expensive here, with high levels of unemployment also. If you're unfortunate enough to have to claim dole..it's a pittance.

Take your point in employment. I've just noticed a headline that says unemployment there is now running at about 33%. A third of all people! What are the prospects for self employment? Not sure what...sail mending for yachts...bee keeping and export the honey...there must be something. Maybe I could work as a male escort to single ladies visiting on holiday!!

Mending sails - maybe not, they're made to last nowadays.
Bee keeping - you might get stung!
Male escort - I don't think any single ladies visiting here on holiday would have any need to pay for this service. There are plenty of males on the prowl - waiting to pounce on any female willing to oblige.
How about male stripper - there does seem to be a shortage of these at the moment!

[Muppet]

Take a good read around the forum and you will find several million posts relating to some of your questions, particularly the economic position of the islands.

If you had a property you could let in the UK then you stand half a chance of escaping and surviving, without that backstop your half a chance is at least halved again - sadly.

Unemployment here is 33 % yes and more likely to rise further before recovering, and without a job there are other problems too. For example, access to the health service is pretty much reliant on having a legal, contracted job (almost as rare as rocking horse poo!!). The alternative is to register as self-employed, however, in the UK your "stamp" would cost you circa 20 quid a month, here it is just under 300 euro a month - (yes not a triping eara - 300). You do get a little of this back eventually through the submission of a tax return every spring, but the rate is the rate whether or not you get any sails to mend. Without this private health insurance - another 100 plus a month to find is pretty essential.

There's precious little other social help either, even for the Canarians let alone the Johnny Foreigners, dole money runs out pro-rata to what was put in up to a limit of a year or less when it simply stops.

It's tough ........ really tough without anything to fall back on.

[bardofely]

Sadly I have to agree with Muppet's response. I find myself caught in a trap I happily and naively walked into and now spend a lot of time trying to find a way out of! If I didn't have my cat I would quit!

[candy2411]

David, I sound very much like you. I am single, in my 50s, writing books, would be regarded as Bohemian, etc. I live in a rented apartment in a small village in the north. I can tell you that a lot of the time over the past few years it has been a real struggle financially, and I have often considered going back to the UK if I could. I haven't because I have a cat and it costs more than 500 pounds just for a one way flight for her! My main problem the whole time I have been living on the island is getting enough money in each month. The happiest I have been is when I had regular work. I hate getting behind with my rent and not even being able to afford bus fares but this has happened a lot over the past couple of years. Yes, I recommend Tenerife as a wonderful place to live but you need the money, and in my experience it is very hard to get permanent or regular work.

Thankyou for such an honestly written open response to antelope's OP. You sound a lovely person and I'm quite moved over your feelings toward your cat.This is so refreshing nowadays when we see so many posts about people moving on and leaving their pets regardless.
I wish you every success with your books and hope your fortunes change for the better.Kind regards to you and your cat.

[bardofely]

Thank you, Candy! I will not leave my cat who has been my companion since 2005 and spends most of her life in my company here. I wish I had a better place for her but at least this is safe. The place we lived in Costa del Silencio wasn't because the other cat that was given to me by my former landlady got poisoned there and this gave me another reason to move out and a very depressing reality to deal with!

[antelope]

OK..I think I'm getting the picture. Alas, my bod is probably past being able to earn a living through dubious means. Always worth a try though!

It's becoming apparent that a life in the Canaries is pretty much dependent upon an independent means of income. If my share trading game goes well, that just may be possible, but it's highly unlikely...and not worth betting on in this way [ it's a gamble enough as it is ].

I'm not encouraged, I have to say. But there's no way I'm going to just fade away over the next twenty or thirty years in the UK. The Gambia? Sri Lanka? Cyprus? Central America? Just living on a boat in the med? There must be a way. A cottage on the Devon Coast? Fine if you're a b(w)anker as unfortunately, such people have pushed prices well beyond the reach of normal people. Maybe a wide bean narrow boat. Or a Dutch Barge somewhere.

What has gone wrong with the world that we're all struggling to find a simple, modest life?

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You know, this is why Crete appeals. It's a much bigger place than the Canaries. There's room to get lost if you want to. A small house in the south west, away from the tourists. Room to live your own way. I dream of a little stone house with lime plaster, and a small plot of land that is home to a pair of ducks, a pair of goats, some chickens, a dog and a cat. I have an old banger that gets me about, and maybe I meet a good woman who likes growing vegetables...I'm not good at that. Otherwise, I'll sink happily, over the years, into being one of those old farts sitting in a cafe playing dominoes. Not a bad end in thirty years time. Meanwhile, I'll learn to sail and use rich men's boats, delivering them to the UK for a modest fee. I'll expand my knowledge in sustainability and aim for freelance consultancy work, as Greece slowly recovers. And I live quietly in my little house, keeping my animals company. That's not a bad vision. Beats trying to compete with the b(w)ankers and their kin.

Mind you, I have just got back from the pub! Doubtless reality will reassert itself in the morning.

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Blimey, this website doesn't give you much time to post before logging you out!

[Ed3229]

OK..I think I'm getting the picture. Alas, my bod is probably past being able to earn a living through dubious means. Always worth a try though!

It's becoming apparent that a life in the Canaries is pretty much dependent upon an independent means of income. If my share trading game goes well, that just may be possible, but it's highly unlikely...and not worth betting on in this way [ it's a gamble enough as it is ].

I'm not encouraged, I have to say. But there's no way I'm going to just fade away over the next twenty or thirty years in the UK. The Gambia? Sri Lanka? Cyprus? Central America? Just living on a boat in the med? There must be a way. A cottage on the Devon Coast? Fine if you're a b(w)anker as unfortunately, such people have pushed prices well beyond the reach of normal people. Maybe a wide bean narrow boat. Or a Dutch Barge somewhere.

What has gone wrong with the world that we're all struggling to find a simple, modest life?

- - - - - - - - - - merged double post - - - - - - - - - -

You know, this is why Crete appeals. It's a much bigger place than the Canaries. There's room to get lost if you want to. A small house in the south west, away from the tourists. Room to live your own way. I dream of a little stone house with lime plaster, and a small plot of land that is home to a pair of ducks, a pair of goats, some chickens, a dog and a cat. I have an old banger that gets me about, and maybe I meet a good woman who likes growing vegetables...I'm not good at that. Otherwise, I'll sink happily, over the years, into being one of those old farts sitting in a cafe playing dominoes. Not a bad end in thirty years time. Meanwhile, I'll learn to sail and use rich men's boats, delivering them to the UK for a modest fee. I'll expand my knowledge in sustainability and aim for freelance consultancy work, as Greece slowly recovers. And I live quietly in my little house, keeping my animals company. That's not a bad vision. Beats trying to compete with the b(w)ankers and their kin.

Mind you, I have just got back from the pub! Doubtless reality will reassert itself in the morning.

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Blimey, this website doesn't give you much time to post before logging you out!

My daughter lived in Crete for 10 years.....Its cold in the winter and the only jobs are for young brits pr'ing...
She now lives in Athens ...Her Greek BF runs a bar and Tattoo shop and they are finding it very hard.

[ribuck]

It's becoming apparent that a life in the Canaries is pretty much dependent upon an independent means of income. If my share trading game goes well, that just may be possible, but it's highly unlikely...and not worth betting on in this way [ it's a gamble enough as it is ]

I also dabble in shares, and what I've done is to switch them into long-term income yielding shares. The UK stockmarket is now priced so low that you can buy solid companies like Vodafone or BP on a price/earnings ratio of less than 7. Broadly speaking, that's equivalent to a projected return on investment of 14%, although of course it's unpredictable. By holding income-yielding shares long term, it also avoids repeatedly incurring dealing charges and spreads. Do you have enough investments that they could provide at least a regular emergency backup income?


You know, this is why Crete appeals ... There's room to get lost if you want to. A small house ... away from the tourists. Room to live your own way. I dream of a little stone house with lime plaster, and a small plot of land that is home to a pair of ducks, a pair of goats, some chickens, a dog and a cat. I have an old banger that gets me about, and maybe I meet a good woman who likes growing vegetables...

Hang on, this changes everything! You can easily get those things in Tenerife, but they won't be advertised in the mainstream. If you go hiking through the trails that connect the remote villages in the Anaga peninsular you will often see hand-painted "For Sale" signs on little shacks that don't have immediate road access, for ridiculously low prices. Old cave houses even, that you would need to renovate, are going for next to nothing. Because many of the young people have moved out to the towns and cities, there's plenty available. If you want road access, you pay more, but still less than in the towns and cities. I suggest you pay a visit to the beautiful village of Afur and ask around. You can get there by bus from La Laguna. Call into the little bar there (which is surely the happiest bar in Tenerife) and start talking to the locals. (You will need to go with someone who speaks Spanish though, as not many people in these villages will speak any English.)

But ... in your first post you mentioned that you wanted high-speed internet. You probably won't get that, although many of the remote villages have good 3G mobile coverage and you can use a dongle plugged in to your computer.

[Nikita]

OK..I think I'm getting the picture. Alas, my bod is probably past being able to earn a living through dubious means. Always worth a try though!

It's becoming apparent that a life in the Canaries is pretty much dependent upon an independent means of income. If my share trading game goes well, that just may be possible, but it's highly unlikely...and not worth betting on in this way [ it's a gamble enough as it is ].

I'm not encouraged, I have to say. But there's no way I'm going to just fade away over the next twenty or thirty years in the UK. The Gambia? Sri Lanka? Cyprus? Central America? Just living on a boat in the med? There must be a way. A cottage on the Devon Coast? Fine if you're a b(w)anker as unfortunately, such people have pushed prices well beyond the reach of normal people. Maybe a wide bean narrow boat. Or a Dutch Barge somewhere.

What has gone wrong with the world that we're all struggling to find a simple, modest life?

- - - - - - - - - - merged double post - - - - - - - - - -

You know, this is why Crete appeals. It's a much bigger place than the Canaries. There's room to get lost if you want to. A small house in the south west, away from the tourists. Room to live your own way. I dream of a little stone house with lime plaster, and a small plot of land that is home to a pair of ducks, a pair of goats, some chickens, a dog and a cat. I have an old banger that gets me about, and maybe I meet a good woman who likes growing vegetables...I'm not good at that. Otherwise, I'll sink happily, over the years, into being one of those old farts sitting in a cafe playing dominoes. Not a bad end in thirty years time. Meanwhile, I'll learn to sail and use rich men's boats, delivering them to the UK for a modest fee. I'll expand my knowledge in sustainability and aim for freelance consultancy work, as Greece slowly recovers. And I live quietly in my little house, keeping my animals company. That's not a bad vision. Beats trying to compete with the b(w)ankers and their kin.

Mind you, I have just got back from the pub! Doubtless reality will reassert itself in the morning.

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Blimey, this website doesn't give you much time to post before logging you out!

Well we haven't yet met and ??? You Trying to get out of Buying me a drink babe. I would move over there myself but with 3 Huskies
and my 2 Cats who are now Geriatrics, It would not be fare to any of them.

Got People Viewing the house today at 3 from Chigwell Essex, put it on the market yesterday, The thought of selling and finding somewhere else for me and my
hairy friends petrifies me.

Keep your pecker up hun and keep us informed, I'm holding you to that drink. X

[murph]

OK..I think I'm getting the picture.
I'm not encouraged, I have to say. But there's no way I'm going to just fade away over the next twenty or thirty years in the UK. The Gambia? Sri Lanka? Cyprus? Central America? Just living on a boat in the med? There must be a way. A cottage on the Devon Coast? Fine if you're a b(w)anker as unfortunately, such people have pushed prices well beyond the reach of normal people. Maybe a wide bean narrow boat. Or a Dutch Barge somewhere.



A fella I know (60 ish - divorced etc) has just been to Thailand for 3 weeks for the second time this year.

Says he is going to go for the winter as it costs about £10 a day to live - food, lodgings, drink and some ahem - creature comforts, if ya know what I mean!

[Bazz]

A fella I know (60 ish - divorced etc) has just been to Thailand for 3 weeks for the second time this year.

Says he is going to go for the winter as it costs about £10 a day to live - food, lodgings, drink and some ahem - creature comforts, if ya know what I mean!

You mean ladyboys?! :crylaughing::crylaughing:

[Red Devil]

OK..I think I'm getting the picture. Alas, my bod is probably past being able to earn a living through dubious means. Always worth a try though!

It's becoming apparent that a life in the Canaries is pretty much dependent upon an independent means of income. If my share trading game goes well, that just may be possible, but it's highly unlikely...and not worth betting on in this way [ it's a gamble enough as it is ].

I'm not encouraged, I have to say. But there's no way I'm going to just fade away over the next twenty or thirty years in the UK. The Gambia? Sri Lanka? Cyprus? Central America? Just living on a boat in the med? There must be a way. A cottage on the Devon Coast? Fine if you're a b(w)anker as unfortunately, such people have pushed prices well beyond the reach of normal people. Maybe a wide bean narrow boat. Or a Dutch Barge somewhere.

What has gone wrong with the world that we're all struggling to find a simple, modest life?

- - - - - - - - - - merged double post - - - - - - - - - -

You know, this is why Crete appeals. It's a much bigger place than the Canaries. There's room to get lost if you want to. A small house in the south west, away from the tourists. Room to live your own way. I dream of a little stone house with lime plaster, and a small plot of land that is home to a pair of ducks, a pair of goats, some chickens, a dog and a cat. I have an old banger that gets me about, and maybe I meet a good woman who likes growing vegetables...I'm not good at that. Otherwise, I'll sink happily, over the years, into being one of those old farts sitting in a cafe playing dominoes. Not a bad end in thirty years time. Meanwhile, I'll learn to sail and use rich men's boats, delivering them to the UK for a modest fee. I'll expand my knowledge in sustainability and aim for freelance consultancy work, as Greece slowly recovers. And I live quietly in my little house, keeping my animals company. That's not a bad vision. Beats trying to compete with the b(w)ankers and their kin.

Mind you, I have just got back from the pub! Doubtless reality will reassert itself in the morning.

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Blimey, this website doesn't give you much time to post before logging you out!

Bit confused here... if you concede that living in the Canaries means a bit of an independent income why is that any different from the other places you mention so wistfully? Surely anyone anywhere needs means to survive and at least in the Canaries you will have warmth all year round, unlike a Greek island, in winter at least.
Day to day living in the Canaries can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be, there are plenty of towns and villages away from touristy places where fresh fruit/veg for example, are cheap. Local Canarian bars/tapas bars are cheap for eating & drinking.
Really just having a rented place in the Uk has given you the freedom to leave I would have thought, as long as you still have your modest income from trading nothing has altered, wherever you live. Later, if the lifestyle suits, you then have time to look around and see if there are any opportunities for a different work approach?

[murph]

You mean ladyboys?! :crylaughing::crylaughing:


NO NO No No No - The real thing!! :D

[Bazz]

NO NO No No No - The real thing!! :D

As long as you can tell the difference! :laugh::laugh: