 |
| Not in the video but a great sunrise over The Med |
 |
| Chris and Wendy Williams - Owners of Total FM |
 |
| My colleague, Stu Forsyth presenting his Midday Madness Show |
 |
| Colin Harkness prepares his Fine Wine and Dine Show in the background |
Friday, 16 December 2016
Javea documentary video
Click on the box below to access an informative video about Javea. It's a must watch if you're considering moving to Spain or just looking for an ideal holiday destination for next summer. Check out a selection of screen grabs below of Total FM's contribution to the video.
Thursday, 15 December 2016
Two months off! Now back to the blogging.(Time to catch up)
Hello and welcome back to Costa Del Blogga. I know it's been over two months and these pages have been lying dormant but I feel it's now time to get back to business. Especially since I've not actually been lazing around doing nothing.
You may have noticed my last blog post was on the subject of soul music and the start of my new venture as a radio presenter. Well, I'm now on show number twelve and enjoying every minute of it and I've also secured the Saturday afternoon sports show spot - busy lad!
Add to the above the fact I've managed to get bookings for DJ shows in and around the Javea area, it looks as though I've not quite escaped the hospitality trade yet. But did anyone ever think I would?
Another venture I've managed to secure is a go at teaching English as a second language at Lady Elizabeth (Primary) School in Benitaxell, about a fifteen minute drive from where I live. It's basically a Saturday morning job and do you know what? I'm really enjoying it. See, multi-talented after all.
Lynn hasn't been slouching around whilst I look for work. She volunteers in the library of the LES secondary school and house sits the school's boarding villa when the regular staff are away.
All of this frantic activity is allowing us both to network and get our faces seen in the area - vital for any ex-pat who is not yet ready to put their feet up and lay by the pool all day sipping a sangria.
A lot of the time it's down to luck how you manage to get on out here, well, that's what I've found. A chance meeting at a Facebook networking night (and party!!) with one of the co-owners of the radio station got me to where I am today. They gave me the opportunity to MC the charity event for the Bomberos at Laguna Ribs during the summer then took me on as one of their presenters. ,
People regularly post on Facebook they are looking for a DJ for parties, events etc. Because of the radio work I've been recommended and from getting confirmed bookings it's led to others - the "Jungle Telegraph" system works excellently around here.
Through a family connection at Lady Elizabeth School I found out they were forming a Saturday club to teach English. I applied, was interviewed and got the job.
As a result of hosting children at our house during the summer (Summer School) we made good contacts with the secondary school admin team which has given Lynn a foothold into hopefully future employment.
You do have to work at it as an ex-pat if you want to keep busy. A far cry of course from our previous ten years running the York Hotel and all the highs and lows associated with that. One overriding factor keeping us both going is waking up most mornings to sunshine filtering through the shutters.
Unbelievably, when my daughter, eldest granddaughter and aunt visited us in October we were out swimming in the Med - on Halloween, it was so hot. OK, I was in the water with my grandchildren and everyone else was sunbathing but still, at the end of October!
It's very obvious then we plan to be here a while. Time to learn the language?
We are fortunate to have a lovely lady in our village (introduced to us by our daughter) and she teaches a class in the village community centre on a Monday morning. Our Spanish is coming along slowly but surely as they say and it's much better having a native teacher putting you right rather than trying to work it out yourself from a book.
Strange how it's worked out. I teach children English on a Saturday and then attend Spanish lessons on a Monday. Method in my madness though - the kids help me out with some Spanish words!
We have plenty of opportunities to practice the language. The local bars in the village are...well, very local. They wont go out of their way to speak English to you - why should they? One thing though, they appreciate it when you "have a go", plus they are more than happy to correct your pronunciation of words. We shun the pre-packed sections of meat and fish departments in supermarkets and are now more confident of approaching the butchers and fishmongers and improving our ordering skills.
So, Christmas is almost upon us but we haven't totally shunned the British way of life. Our tree is up and decorated and our most valuable decorations came with us in the packing boxes. It's not quite "chestnuts roasting round an open fire" but our calor-gas heater suffices for warmth. a major difference to the pre-Christmas hullabaloo can be found when out and about in town - it's just not there. Well, not in your face.
Don't get me wrong. The Spanish love Christmas, just not in the same in-your-face commercial way we have descended to in the UK. In fact its the ex-pats who are the most enthusiastic about the whole season. We have though arranged for us to host Christmas Lunch this year. Well, our eldest daughter and family are here, my son-in-laws mum and gran are here, my aunt is visiting from the UK - a proper family Christmas Day. We've had plenty of practice over the years.
The final upshot to our first six months here in Spain has been the friendliness of everyone; locals and ex-pats alike. The climate here has been described as one of the best in the world. Maybe that's the reason so many people are content with their lot in this beautiful part of the Costa Blanca. Now I'm more settled I'll get out a bit more myself and get to fully appreciate my new home.
 |
| Giving it large on Total FM |
Add to the above the fact I've managed to get bookings for DJ shows in and around the Javea area, it looks as though I've not quite escaped the hospitality trade yet. But did anyone ever think I would?
Another venture I've managed to secure is a go at teaching English as a second language at Lady Elizabeth (Primary) School in Benitaxell, about a fifteen minute drive from where I live. It's basically a Saturday morning job and do you know what? I'm really enjoying it. See, multi-talented after all.
Lynn hasn't been slouching around whilst I look for work. She volunteers in the library of the LES secondary school and house sits the school's boarding villa when the regular staff are away.
All of this frantic activity is allowing us both to network and get our faces seen in the area - vital for any ex-pat who is not yet ready to put their feet up and lay by the pool all day sipping a sangria.
 |
| Splashing about in the Med - on Halloween! |
A lot of the time it's down to luck how you manage to get on out here, well, that's what I've found. A chance meeting at a Facebook networking night (and party!!) with one of the co-owners of the radio station got me to where I am today. They gave me the opportunity to MC the charity event for the Bomberos at Laguna Ribs during the summer then took me on as one of their presenters. ,
People regularly post on Facebook they are looking for a DJ for parties, events etc. Because of the radio work I've been recommended and from getting confirmed bookings it's led to others - the "Jungle Telegraph" system works excellently around here.
 |
| Enjoying the giant paella in Jesus Pobre |
As a result of hosting children at our house during the summer (Summer School) we made good contacts with the secondary school admin team which has given Lynn a foothold into hopefully future employment.
You do have to work at it as an ex-pat if you want to keep busy. A far cry of course from our previous ten years running the York Hotel and all the highs and lows associated with that. One overriding factor keeping us both going is waking up most mornings to sunshine filtering through the shutters.
Unbelievably, when my daughter, eldest granddaughter and aunt visited us in October we were out swimming in the Med - on Halloween, it was so hot. OK, I was in the water with my grandchildren and everyone else was sunbathing but still, at the end of October!
It's very obvious then we plan to be here a while. Time to learn the language?
We are fortunate to have a lovely lady in our village (introduced to us by our daughter) and she teaches a class in the village community centre on a Monday morning. Our Spanish is coming along slowly but surely as they say and it's much better having a native teacher putting you right rather than trying to work it out yourself from a book.
Strange how it's worked out. I teach children English on a Saturday and then attend Spanish lessons on a Monday. Method in my madness though - the kids help me out with some Spanish words!
 |
| Great November weather. |
So, Christmas is almost upon us but we haven't totally shunned the British way of life. Our tree is up and decorated and our most valuable decorations came with us in the packing boxes. It's not quite "chestnuts roasting round an open fire" but our calor-gas heater suffices for warmth. a major difference to the pre-Christmas hullabaloo can be found when out and about in town - it's just not there. Well, not in your face.
Don't get me wrong. The Spanish love Christmas, just not in the same in-your-face commercial way we have descended to in the UK. In fact its the ex-pats who are the most enthusiastic about the whole season. We have though arranged for us to host Christmas Lunch this year. Well, our eldest daughter and family are here, my son-in-laws mum and gran are here, my aunt is visiting from the UK - a proper family Christmas Day. We've had plenty of practice over the years.
The final upshot to our first six months here in Spain has been the friendliness of everyone; locals and ex-pats alike. The climate here has been described as one of the best in the world. Maybe that's the reason so many people are content with their lot in this beautiful part of the Costa Blanca. Now I'm more settled I'll get out a bit more myself and get to fully appreciate my new home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)