A DIVERSION FROM THE GLOOM

A 457 word Blog

By

Nick Snelling

A Diversion from The Gloom

Looking back at the Blogs that I have contributed to Xpat, I see that many have been rather gloomy!  I have tended to concentrate upon the economic problems facing Spain and, by definition, the rest of us.  This is my speciality and I guess I can get obsessed by it – not least, because I am so furious about what has happened and the hardships that will be experienced by everyone!

For sure, times are hard now and our Spanish friends are starting to have horrible problems as Spain slides into recession and the affects of this lunatic credit crunch bite.  Few of us, will not feel the accompanying depression nor be unaware of the tangible stress evident everywhere we go.

However, within all of this, it is too easy to forget the sheer, unadulterated joy that is experienced whilst living in Spain.  This was my reason for writing my new book ‘Taking The Heat’ which is my homage to the past few years.  Living here has been nothing if not fun!  Indeed, rarely have I experienced so many raw belly laughs - nor found myself in so many absurdly funny situations.  Often these have developed into episodes that have ended with all parties, literally, crying tears of hilarity – the very pearl drops of life itself.

I have gone from being a TV co-presenter in a chaotically collapsing studio - to the most baffled potential wine merchant on the Iberian peninsular.  Meanwhile, there have been epic battles with builders and the excruciating embarrassment of a pornographic DVD (journalistic investigation, you understand!) being opened in full view of the clientele of my local village bar!  Meanwhile, preparations for the beach have been a challenge that have nearly given me a nervous breakdown – along with taking over an English class that veered in directions so extraordinary as to be nearly unprintable!  During all of this I have, somehow, still kept a happy wife, albeit that her shopping expeditions have nearly resulted in both a collapse of the Spanish retail industry and the fragile finances of our home (Casa Desolada)!  Time and again, our adventures here have uncontrollably spiralled into unforeseen areas of pure – (but delightful) farce!   

That said, I am sure that you will see yourself and your own life in Spain in ‘Taking The Heat’ - which should brighten your day, make you giggle and remind you of your own sparkling memories!  It should also enchant and encourage our wavering friends back in the UK...  They need to see that moving here can be done, that it is an adventure to relish and that it is both enriching and wonderfully entertaining! 

Copyright Nick Snelling (www.nicholassnelling.com) author of three books on Spain including ‘How to Move Safely to Spain’ (www.movesafelytospain.com)

ENDS