All the trappings of Home (with added Sun!)

Before we came to Spain we rushed around buying all the things we didn't think we could get here and having all the medical overhauls we thought we would need in order to survive. How ignorant were we?

We did our homework and discovered that Spain's Medical services are way above the UK's in the league table so what made us, reasonably intelligent people, act as though we were going to live on a desert island?

Its not just us either. Many people we speak to admit to the same misconception and I feel quite embarrassed now to think that we were like that.

For instance one of the things we do every couple of years when back in the UK is have our eyes tested. We then jump through hoops to get the prescription glasses sent to Spain and bite our nails to the elbows until they arrive safely. (99% of all mail arrives safely - its just that one thing that you really want.............)! Anyway like everything else - its all available here and for those who dont find the language so easy, there is Specsavers!!!! Yes - how simple is that! They have branches in Calpe, Fuengirola, Javea and Torrevieja. We used the Fuengirola branch and it was great - both Spanish and English spoken! Derek now has a nice new pair of glasses and can see again!! Really see!

Its always daunting contemplating doing anything official in a foreign country but the most daunting part is the language barrier. We learnt enough Spanish to get by but didn't progress from that and I would urge anyone coming to live in Spain (or any foreign country) to learn the language. Having said that I would wait till you get there as its easier to learn a language when immersed in it daily.

Finally, if you have concerns about your HP sauce and baked beans - you need worry no more! Mercadona one of the main Spanish supermarkets seems to stock more and more English products (obviously in the areas where Brits live). We have cheddar cheese, baked beans and I even found bovril the other day which I wasn't aware that I wanted but when I saw it that was it - had to have it! Obviously they stock loads of other stuff too numerous to mention but you get my drift.

So you see you can have your cake and eat it too!

Until the next time - have a great day!

www.specsavers.es