Discussions

We are moving tfrom France to a house in spain that has no electricity.Can anyone tell us a reseansable priced supplier of off grid solar panels or generators.We will be in the Sierra Mariola nature reserve

Hi I currently live in Brittany and in the throes of selling my house here.   I am exploring the possibility of moving to the Costa Blanca and looking for some informed information.     I am English and  work as a counsellor here in France, offering a counselling service in English.  Would I be able to work legally in Spain ?   I suppose I'm asking how difficult it is to work for oneself in Spain. I currently speak no Spanish but am willing to learn.   In France it is nigh on impossible to live without having a good grasp of the language.   I am told that Spanish welcome the English more readily than the French and are happy to conduct conversations in English.  Would you say that is true ? Would I be entitled to health cover on my arrival in Spain ? Thank you in advance WT        

The link below is regarding a posting on behalf of expats in Cyprus but will affect all pensioners in the EC.We expat pensioners, need to send this following email to the Work & Pensions Committee.workpencom@parliament.uk, by the 24th January 2015.It is urged that a 'prayer' an EDM as follows is laid before parliament before the 24th January (40 days after the SI was laid ) Early day motion( prayer) Winter Fuel Payment to British Citizens in EU countries. The Statutory Instrument 2014 No.3270 laid before Parliament on the 15th December 2014 restricting payment to pensioners residing in countries,(incorrectly,)called by the DWP 'hot' of the EU should be annulled. After the General Election, this matter may then be appropriately reconsidered by the new parliament. This SI almost certainly contravenes the UK treaty agreement with the EU on social security co-operation. In order for questions to be asked in the house apposing the scrapping of the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners living out of the UK, the above email needs to be sent so pensioners can stand and be counted and voice their opinions.  Time is of the essence as they need to be received before the 24th January. below is the link explaining more details voiced by the expats in Cyprus. Spain is also a country where the cold winters are felt and houses require heating. -http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/01/13/british-expat-pensioners-fighting-to-keep-winter-fuel-payments/  

British Consulate Alicante Press Release One out of five British passports stolen in Alicante province are taken at the airport, and half of them are removed from vehicles there, the British Consulate has warned.   Beyond the airport, a further one out of five British passports are stolen from vehicles on the road or in car parks. The high level of passport thefts from vehicles are the focus of a new drive by the Consulate and police to reduce the number of Brits who suffer the consequent losses of time and money. The British Consulate last week met car hire companies at Alicante airport and the national police to discuss ways to reduce the number of British nationals who fall victim to passport robbery when they collect their hire cars.    The Consulate asked car hire companies to remove stickers from the back of cars as this makes them an obvious target for thieves. One company revealed that since removing stickers from its cars, the number of broken windscreens had reduced greatly.   The car hire companies said they will issue new advice to customers: 1. Never leave personal belongings visible from outside the vehicle 2. When your vehicle is full of suitcases or other valuables, leave it in a proper car park with security cameras, not on the stree 3. Be extra wary when loading and unloading – keep your valuables close to you 4. Ignore attempts to distract you when on the road or in a car park - they could be part of a ploy to rob you The police promised more patrols at the car hire collection point and closer working with car hire companies. They also urged car hire companies to publicise the telephone number 902 102 112 for tourists to report a crime in English if they do fall victim. You can watch a video on how to avoid becoming a victim of roadside robbery at: https://vimeo.com/98023947

The first Emaus Association euro a month prize giving took place this week 16/02/2015 at the Emuas headquarters in Altea. Emaus have created a new and easy to use website www.euroamonth.com. Where people and companies/organizations can make a direct donation to them via their secure Paypal account.  The new donation website gives a indepth insight into the Emaus Association and the type of work they do with three real life stories of the people they help. Each month an automatic raffle will be held where donars will have the oportunity to win a brand new smartphone kindly donated to Emaus by one of their sponsors,  telecomunications company TELITEC. Montse Fitir Emaus president and Telitec business and promotions manager Gemma Broad handed over the smartphone to the first euro a month lucky winner, donar Julie Voce from Javea.  Julie comented that she was emotionally moved having read the real life stories on the new euro a month website and after all whats couple of euros a month donation?   If everybody joins in with euro a month then we could really help make a difference to this good, respected charity who after 35 years of non stop work are in grave danger with the threat of closure on their doorstep.

Does anyone have the books or DVD rom they would like to sell for Viento en Popo, the upper intermediate OU Spanish course? If you don't want to sell the books, I would greatly appreciate a copy of the DVD Rom - I can buy the books on amazon but they don't sell the DVD rom. I can also make a copy if the original was just lent to me. Many thanks.

We are thinking of moving to the Costa Blanca from France and wondered if anyone could tell me what the situation is with UK TV. In southern areas of France satellite TV became unobtainable last year with all the changes of footprint etc. I have heard that it has since changed again - is it available down on the Costa Blanca? If not do people stream or what? Many thanks.

PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CUDECA HOSPICE   Talk Radio Europe is once again holding their annual Telethon in aid of Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice and you are invited to join in on Friday 27st March from 10.00 am to 7.00 am.  The show will be hosted by the TRE team alongside some special guests performing live in the studio.  Each year Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice requires 3 million euros to provide their services such as home care, the day care unit and the in-patient unit to over 900 patients annually and support to their family.  For more information visit the website www.cudeca.org  The TRE Telethon website www.tretelethon.com will be ready for display on Monday 2nd March and for bidding on Monday 9th March, with all the auction items and sponsor data available, allowing visitors to make advance bids on items they wish to try and buy, thus giving our sponsors some advertising for their generosity.  Over the years, the gifts have been wide ranging and have included beauty products and treatment sessions, advertisement space in newspapers and magazines, celebrity owned and signed items, gifts and hampers, hotel and villa stays, jewellery, wines & spirits, restaurant meals, tickets for events……… and many, many more exciting things.  Should you be willing to donate an item for this year’s Telethon, we are sure it would make an outstanding prize that would receive many bids and generate a wonderful donation to Cudeca Hospice.  PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE GIVING “LIFE TO DAYS” TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.

Last year went to the sausage fair at Alcalali, anyone know if it is on this year, and if so what date please, think it was early March last year.

Anyone have any experience with these fires, with regard to availability, efficiency, fuel availability and cost.?  

Hi, I've used the above company for a few years for long term airport parking and servicing my car as we travel in and out of Spain from the UK. There seems to be some kind of problem with the running and management of the company at the moment, does anyone know what the issues are? In particular what's happened to Andres Hermida? Is the company still operating? Has it gone into liquidation? Obviously concerned exactly where my car is at the moment!!!  Any information would be much appreciated.

Castella and Campello walkers group have collected 300€ for Friends of the Children of Emaús. “This money has gone towards the € 792 gas bill at the Relleu House which the Association just paid” Said Carol Saunders, President of the Association The cheque was collected by Linda Richardson who thanked the group for their hard working and great contribution. Read about Friends of the Children of Emaus on their website,www.fcemaus.com For general information about Friends of the Children of Emaus or to become a Friend please contact:  info@fcemaus.com

we are in denia and looking for a good dog groomer in and around denia

Hello Everyone, I have been in Spain for a couple of months on a house-sitting assignment and have been really saddened to see a number of presumably abandoned dogs wandering about, some in a terrible state. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what to do in this circumstance? As I am house-sitting I am not in a position to take dogs in unfortunately. On a broader level than the plight of individual dogs, I have found a website: www.esdaw.eu which looks at this problem in depth and is aiming to do something about it. The site is well worth a good read to understand the true extent of the problem across Europe. It also has an action section, with petitons to sign. In addition there is a link to MEPs. I wrote to every Spanish MEP yesterday by e-mail.  There are 53 of them and it only took a couple of hours. Several have replied already and I hope and believe that if we bring this matter to their attention in numbers, we will bring about change. Please pass this on to anyone who you think may wish to participate. 'Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to.' (Alfred A. Montapert) Only the actions of individuals can bring about change. Thank you.

Hello  Trying to find a good installer of Satellite TV in the Quesada or Los Montesinos area - can anyone help please -

New Release on behalf of the Electoral Commission UK expats – Don’t miss out, you may be able to vote in the General Election says Electoral Commission  This week the UK Electoral Commission has launched a dedicated overseas voter registration campaign. The campaign aims to encourage British citizens living overseas to register to vote ahead of the UK Parliamentary General Election, due to take place on Thursday 7 May 2015.  To mark the start of the campaign, the elections watchdog is hosting Overseas Voter Registration Day on Thursday 5 February 2015 in a bid to boost the numbers of UK residents overseas on the UK’s electoral registers.  This is the first UK General Election where people can register to vote online. The Electoral Commission hopes that the new online process will encourage more UK nationals living overseas to register to take part in elections from overseas.  Estimates show that there may be as many as 5.5 million UK nationals living overseas, but there are fewer than 20,000 currently on the electoral registers.  To register as an overseas voter, UK residents overseas must have previously been registered in a UK constituency within the last fifteen years.  Alex Robertson, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission said:  “A lot of people aren’t aware that it’s possible to register as an overseas voter for the General Election. We need to challenge the misconception that once you’ve moved overseas you can’t take part. Many people can and now it’s easier than ever to take the first step by registering online.”  “That’s why we are urging UK nationals who are now living abroad to take five minutes on Overseas Registration Day to visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and make sure they will be able to have their say at the General Election in May.”  “Overseas Voter Registration Day is also the perfect opportunity for everyone to encourage friends, family or colleagues to check if they can vote and ask them to register online from wherever they are in the world.”  The Cabinet Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are supporting the Electoral Commission’s campaign to raise awareness of voter registration among British residents overseas in the run up to the general election. To register to vote, UK citizens should visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

We were stopped by the police the other day for not fully stopping at a halt sign, the road had excellent visibility and there was no other traffic, the first question we were asked was are you a resident or a visitor, well driving a french registered car it was fairly obvious that we were visitors, and we admitted this, to be told oh well that's 100€ fine. We duly paid this, but my query is, if we had been (or said) we were residents would we have had to pay the same amount? Having asked one or two people we have had very mixed replies.

can anyone recomend a good reasonably priced hotel in valencia not too far from the station

we are in denia but does anyone know where we can find some 2nd hand bykes

Hi all. Living in France near Toulouse. Son is having his Stag do in Benidorm in March, great I thought easy to get there being on the same Island as such. Now here the problem starts. Found a flight there but unable to find a flight back so that I can go to work on the Monday. Does anyone on here do this trip often enough to know the best way back to France, that takes less than 21 hours or numerous changes. Thanks for reading .