Little Britain

[Brindleboy123]

No but in the Uk they could rent in legal TV services including Sky showing Spoanish channels with some confidence. I guarrantee there'll be a Spaniard behind the Telmicro con ! Anf look at the timing of the raids - malicious or what. No, I stand by what I have said. Peasants turned millionaires the lot of them.

Go on...admit it....you must be a plant...someone has put you on here just to wind everyone up! No one could be that ridiculous!!! Spain actually took part in the Olympics and it was televised throughout the country on Spanish TV! If we are to believe what we read, the spanish authorities were doing exactly what they should do (and thus proving that they are not all corrupt) and arresting those individuals who were breaking the law of the land. We are also led to believe by the way that the majority of those involved were English. We have lived here for 6 years and have been "ripped off" a few times and yes, you guessed it, each time by my "fellow countrymen". If your parents are unhappy where they are I think this is obviously sad and I hope they are able to sell and return to the uk. I agree not all estate agents (certainly not all of which are Spanish) are honest but I am sure you will agree this is the same in the uk. There are numerous areas in the UK where even the police enter with trepidation. I´m sure the parents of all those that have been stabbed over the last 6 months would concur that even some of the "nice" areas are not safe.

Like others, we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been welcomed into a community (I live in an apartment opposite the sea in Torrevieja). Many of our neighbours are here only in the summer months but still welcome us into their homes. Peasants? I don´t think so!! Many of them have more money than I probably will ever see...but don´t feel the need to flash around in big cars or designer clothes.

I do know what it is like in England. I have to go back each month to look after my mum. She is very ill and the C Diff she contracted whilst in a filthy hospital in the UK did not help. My father died last year and my mum has been unable to part with his car and as they live in a private road decided to simply keep it outside. Last month it was stolen. Some time before, my uncle who is 89 was knocked to the floor in his own home when a young thug came in and stole my aunts´ purse. My family don´t live in some big sprawling estate, they live in a quiet area. The roses were even stolen from the grave when my father was buried and have been again since. We have been told that it is florists that take them to use again. How sick is that.

That said, not everything in England is bad but we prefer to live here in Spain and will continue to do so. With regard to rubbish etc., yes we do have nightly collections (7 days per week here) and yes there is rubbish around (usually from holidaymakers where I live as they come off the beach). However, I am sure that you would know that the town hall receives money according to the number of people that signs on the padron. Sadly many "foreigners" do not. I believe it does extremely well with the resources it does have. We have endless police patrols, regular street cleaning teams and the streets are even washed regularly here. We have all this at a fraction of what we paid in the UK.

I would thank you however for your contribution, it has certainly emphasised to me how right we were to make the decision to live here. Gracias and bienviaje.

[the falconer]

interesting thread ,if you come to spain expecting uk standards in some of the areas mentioned then you could resonably expect to pay UK prices for the service ,my uk council tax is roughly the same over two months that i pay in 12 for my place in spain ,so although it does detract from the overall appreance in some areas its a small detractor in the bigger picture ,i dont think spain is better or worse than the uk ,just different and thats why i like it,i like the beaches the nice parks (i live down the road from the parc of nations ,my boys love it and they have great events on there pretty much year round)the family orientation of the spanish people and their general friendliness,ironically enough i have a racist neighbour who patently doesnt like non spanish,i dont like it but i can understand his resentment he saves up to buy a house like mine and i waltz in and out when i feel like it but ive spent 27 yrs in the army and served all over the world i lived in germany for over 10 yrs and unlike most of the insel affes i learnt the lingo and what a difference it makes ,ive only picked up a little spanish but am encouraging my kids to learn it and at least have some respect for the fact we are guests in their country and should make the effort to appreciate their ways and forgive them what we evisage as their failings ,anyhow im at home now so im off to watch tele i cant go in the garden to sit cos its bloody raining! (of course )

[Chrisdee]

point taken also, although I have tried to calm my ways

Nothing like a good ruck! Passes the time of day. Have a good one.

[Britbuild]

point taken also, although I have tried to calm my ways

[Chrisdee]

Why is it that many people on here have such a condescending and contemptuous attitude toward those that have an alternative viewpoint ?

Just because someone sees things differently doesnt mean that they are bitter, or in need of medication. It just means that they see things differently..................

OK point taken, but it does work both ways!

[Britbuild]

Why treat others this way ?

You are certainly a bitter little/big thing aren't you? Nevermind, once you get home you can get some medication to calm you down.

Why is it that many people on here have such a condescending and contemptuous attitude toward those that have an alternative viewpoint ?

Just because someone sees things differently doesnt mean that they are bitter, or in need of medication. It just means that they see things differently..................

[andywebb]

I have followed these threads with great interest. i am amazed that so much can come from the simple desire to watch TV in ones own native language whilst living ( or temp visiting) another country.

I am due out in September for a couple of weeks and will miss being able to turn on SKY news in the morning and then tune in to Radio 2. This does not mean that i am some ignorant ex pat hate the Spanish type it just means I like to keep up with events and maybe relax with a bit of tv that I recognise and enjoy.

In good old Blighty you can watch tv in just about any language on earth from Arabic to Zulu the hoards of Poles and other Eastern Europeans have access to their own culture whilst living and working in the UK - Whats wrong with that?

I travel thew world for a living and it may come as a surprise to many but you can get English TV in every country in the world bar none!

BBC/ SKY in Africa in America in Australia etc. etc. etc. Even German and Chinese stations broadcast in English - I actually often watch TVE ( in Spanish) while I am away in order to improve my understanding of the language.

As for constantly knocking the area of Torrevieja and Orihuela - it has its problems I admit - too much building and not enough sensible planning is part of it. However you can find superb beaches, little country villages nice towns, National Parks only a few k in every direction. the people are pretty friendly and there are many good eating places that are Spanish and good value.

I think myself lucky that I purchased a apartment at a very good price, I can afford to maintain it and enjoy its use as much as possible. Back home a second home is nearly impossible to buy and to pay form due extreme taxes - so Im happy to put up with a bit of concrete here and there!

Lighten up folks and let live and enjoy what ever it takes - even bl**dy Eastenders if it makes you happy!

[Chrisdee]

Some are like an Ostrich wearing rose tinted spectacles!

It's to cover up the mistake they made you see.

Say it's great in Spain and say the UK is a dump often enough and it'll all be OK.

The usual thing is to say the weather's great but I bet a large majority can't wait for August to end. Waaaaaaay too hot.

The weather is too hot in August, the roads are too busy, the shops are manic, but that's a small sacrifice in my book. The Spring, Autumn and winter are great.

[Placebo]

Some are like an Ostrich wearing rose tinted spectacles!

It's to cover up the mistake they made you see.

Say it's great in Spain and say the UK is a dump often enough and it'll all be OK.

The usual thing is to say the weather's great but I bet a large majority can't wait for August to end. Waaaaaaay too hot.

[ScottB]

No but in the Uk they could rent in legal TV services including Sky showing Spoanish channels with some confidence. I guarrantee there'll be a Spaniard behind the Telmicro con ! Anf look at the timing of the raids - malicious or what. No, I stand by what I have said. Peasants turned millionaires the lot of them.

Digital+ has English channels (Sky News, BBC World) - and is perfectly legal.

[Chrisdee]

No but in the Uk they could rent in legal TV services including Sky showing Spoanish channels with some confidence. I guarrantee there'll be a Spaniard behind the Telmicro con ! Anf look at the timing of the raids - malicious or what. No, I stand by what I have said. Peasants turned millionaires the lot of them.

You are certainly a bitter little/big thing aren't you? Nevermind, once you get home you can get some medication to calm you down.

[essex gal]

No but in the Uk they could rent in legal TV services including Sky showing Spoanish channels with some confidence. I guarrantee there'll be a Spaniard behind the Telmicro con ! Anf look at the timing of the raids - malicious or what. No, I stand by what I have said. Peasants turned millionaires the lot of them.

[ScottB]

I certainly wasn't conned. I live in very nice finca (that's like a small famrhouse for those who don't know) and live quite comfortably amongst my Spanish neighbours (who will be amused to hear that apparently they would still be "shovelling shit" if it wasn't for us Brits!). Perhaps I've made the effort rather than chasing a dream and expecting everything to be sunshine, sangria and sea. Perhaps I took the time to do a little research before making the move (it actually took over two years to make sure all the i's were dotted and the t's crossed properly but worth it to ensure that everything was above board).

Spanish con artists? What about the hundreds of British white van drivers who have been ripping off ex-pats for years, knowing full well that most Brits can't be bothered to learn the language and therefore have the only option of using expensive (and unlicensed) Brit cowboys?

Quote: "you can't even watch what you want on the TV!" What a ludicrous statement to make! The Spanish living in the UK don't expect to get TVE and TeleCinco beamed straight into their homes and I cannot understand why the Brits in Spain can expect anything different! You don't have a divine right to your own television!

All this just confirms that I chose correctly not to live in amongst the Brits who are the biggest set of whingers I have ever had the experience to witness.

Now, where did I put my rose-tinted glasses ... ?

[Chrisdee]

I was born in Essex I dont live there.

Compare this area with Gloucester, Wiltshire, into Wales - no comparison at all.

Respect the Spanish - they have done well out of gullible ex pats and grabbed their money. The Spanish have sold their souls and will live to regret it. No one wants to buy here any more and those that have are trapped.
I dont respect them any more than I respect any other money grabbers who work by a system of curruption and backhanders. I say again, this part of Spain is ruined and a bloody tip. I enjoyed the 2 weeks with my parents but I shall be glad to go home and so would they if they could sell and get their money back.

Name a Nation apart from a Muslim one that hasn't sold their souls?
As for no one wants to buy here, of course they do, houses are still selling, not as many as 3,4,5 years ago but they are selling and not everybody feels trapped.

[essex gal]

Cheers Placebo. I know I am right. My parents do as well now and they live a life of regret. I view this place differently than the rest of you. I don't live here. What I see as someone said, is these great big estates of ticky tacky hgouses become ghettoes of the future. Let's face it, they aren't pleasant, the buildings are sub standard with rendering and plaster falling off and yes, okay, there might be nightly bin collections but that doesn't stop the rubbish spreading everywhere. Even another poster here called Elsam, Los verdes, The Greens, notes the awful rubbish tip the area is in on his website.
The bottom line is a lot of local builderrs and the politicians, Spanish the lot of them, have made a lot f money out of suckers dreams, and I class my parents as that as well. Corruption here is everywhere. Can you imagine the uproar at hoime if they could read what I have read here: raw sewage flowing down the streets, prostitutes on roundabouts flashing their tits at passing motorists etc etc. Lovely for the kids isnt it ? No you and many others, my own included have been conned and you con yourselves. The only people laughing are the builders and politicians until they get locked up that is.
Seeing where my poor parents are stuck in convinces me that you will be living in a hell hole in ten years or less. Get real and take off the rose tinted spectacles. Where else would people be holed up in apartments not jknowing what their future is because the builder has taken all their money for nothing back. Imagine that back home ? The Spanish are a bunch of bloody rogues who printed nice glossy leaflets that suckered tens of thousands.
They would still be shovelling shit without incomers money and have made their fortunes on your hard earned cash. Christ, in a so called modern country, you can't even watch what you want on the TV. I wonder if Spanish living in UK would be treated like this ? Mum and Dad are not drinkers, they don't hang around bars and TV was their only real luxury. They came here because of the promise of warm weather and a better lifestyle. The first they have although its too hot and stuffy for me and phew, don't the drains stink ? The second, a better lifestyle - I'm still looking for them.Get real the lot of you. This is a third world country.