Living near Cadiz since November

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flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

Living near Cadiz since November

Promised Simon (sorry took a while Simon) I’d post on progress so here goes.

Moved from the UK August 2015 but spent the first three months in Asturias (taken summer holidays there for over 10 years). More bagpipes than guitars.

But in November bought a house in Valdelagrana just across the water from Cadiz, 10 minutes by train from Jerez de la Frontera, and just over the river from Puerto de Santa Maria. Sadly taken seven months to get the house knocked into shape with all kinds of builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers, pest control (cockroach and mozzies although the town hall exterminated the local mozzies two months ago and haven’t seen either Moz or cockroach near the house since).

Living with me my Spanish wife (she moved from uk with me), mother-in-law (moved from Madrid), step-daughter and two-year-old golden retriever (the last two arrived from Tenerife).

Generally living is cheap, food is great (especially fish), neighbours are a delight (amazingly after the noise fixing the house up made), people are great, the Spanish bureaucracy is a living hell but always has been and always will be, and the local economy is a disaster - but you get used to it. And my lime tree and Olive still haven’t produced anything but early days for both.

[Simon remembered your picture where the spanish neighbours left you peppers and such like when we received a large bag of lemons from the neighbours

].

Anyway three family members and little dog have just headed north back to Madrid after 2 weeks of hols and I can finally get down to a normal life. My Anders 2005 blanca last month eventually caught up with me (it was made in Granada so not quite returning home although now Anders is not that far away in Huelva). And my Bernal and Alhambra made it safely a few months prior.

On playing taught my niece a little Sevillanas (family origin) and this morning tried to get my rusty Farruca and Alegrias back in shape. I know Ron used to say take your time but twelve years is crazy. I promise to practise every day from now on

As for flamenco around haven’t bumped into much. Just the usual street players (I’m being kind). One guy said he’d play a Bulerias for us but he only had 5 strings on his guitar. Well he tried.

But now with more time I will visit a few flamenco bars and clubs and report back. Hopefully it might be interesting for those with ambitions to maybe get here and live in flamenco land.

Oddly just had a refreshing shower here! Average rainfall in August 0mm it says

Cheers Nigel

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 15 2016 17:11:09

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

Very nice. That sounds like the perfect way to retire.
I hope they can get their economy in order some day. I'm shocked the crime rate isn't worse than it is at such high unemployment numbers. At any rate, I'd love to see a prosperous Spain.

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 15 2016 18:52:03

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

10 minutes by train from Jerez de la Frontera

Chance to catch "Jerez al Toque" with Diego del Morao at the Alcazar on 19 August.

Rob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2016 17:03:42

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

Promised Simon (sorry took a while Simon) I’d post on progress so here goes.

Sounds brilliant, Nigel. Wish I was back in Granada but not in July-August :-)

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Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2016 18:28:14

orsonw

Posts: 1938
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

As for flamenco around haven’t bumped into much

A 20 minute drive away.

Jueves 18 de Agosto de 2016 - 22:30h
Baluarte de Candelaria - Cádiz

Cante:
Jesús Mendez (Jerez de la Fra.)
Cancanilla de Málaga (Málaga)
Pedro El Granaino (Granada)
Baile:
Juan Andrés Maya (Granada)
Guitarras:
Chaparro de Málaga (Málaga)
Manuel Valencia (Jerez de la Fra.)
José de Pura (Chiclana de la Fra.)

https://www.tickentradas.com/eventos/jueves-18-de-agosto-jueves-flamenco-2016-baluarte-de-candelaria-cadiz

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2016 19:02:02

Cervantes

Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

I was going to say you should watch some of La Vuelta (bike race)
Buts it all in the North of Spain this year.
I will be watching here on TV.
I have always thought Spain would be a good place to retire with its low cost of living and beautiful places along with Flamenco.

_____________________________

Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco
very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 0:15:36

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

Tx all. Simon it is I'm glad to say as much as 3 to 9 degrees cooler here than Granada. And being on the coast sure helps. Oddly my wife who is Sevillana complains about the heat much more than me.

Orsonw and Robje yes would be perfect but just at the moment have not too well mother-in-law and dog so such treats are on hold. But come autumn hopefully. For now my flamenco is limited to sitting on the terrace, guitar, Juan Martin book, laptop, and a glass or two of tinto verrano. Life's a bitch.

Lenador I don't think any time soon things will improve. There is just so little entrepreneurialism here and anyone with half an idea gets trampled by the authorities. As an example I emailed to Asesorias here to ask them to set up autonomo (self employment ) for my step-daughter. One replied vaguely after 4 days. The other hasn't replied after 10 days. Hardly anyone here knows how to get their email to simply automatically reply saying "thanks for your enquiry, we will be on it soon".

But the people seem resigned to it and their great strength is that they show happiness and are delightful to talk to despite their woes. You just walk down the street and perfect strangers will say "Buenos dias" and when you ask "who is last?" at a queue in the market or a shop you soon end up in happy conversation while the person at the front asks the fishmonger to clean 40 whitebait.

It is weird but delightful if as you say you are retired. Sadly I'm not yet but at least I can operate largely from here

Cervantes just love the coverage here on tv. But next year promised myself motogp at Jerez.

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 6:53:27

orsonw

Posts: 1938
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

..the people seem resigned to it and their great strength is that they show happiness..

Just need a cheap guitar.

Or possibly a more expensive one.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 7:15:45

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

As an example I emailed to Asesorias here to ask them to set up autonomo (self employment ) for my step-daughter

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Ed

El aficionado solitario
Alemania

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 7:54:31

Piwin

Posts: 3563
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

As an example I emailed to Asesorias here to ask them to set up autonomo (self employment ) for my step-daughter

I'm sure you know this but you don't have to go through an asesoria (I just mention it because I've heard quite a few Spanish people who were under the impression that it was a legal obligation). Personally I've found the Spanish system fairly easy to navigate but then again, that's after years as a freelancer in France, so pretty much anything will seem easy in comparison. In my own case, the people at the Tesoreria de la Seguridad Social were extremely helpful. At the Agencia Tributaria, they were a bit "colder" but still helpful if you insist. Whenever I have a problem with accounting, I just go to the Agencia Tributaria and make sure I'm doing it right. The guy always sighs when I show up because he knows it may take a while, but I prefer that to paying whatever an asesor costs these days. It depends what kind of business your step-daughter is trying to get into, but if it's something with rather "light" accounting, an asesor is really not all that useful. In any event, the getting started phase is easy (one trip to the Agencia Tributaria (can fill out "modelo 037" before hand or not, they'll do it for you and walk you through it. It helps to know your epigrafe, whether your business bills and pays IVA and to what extent you're likely to have to deal with the infamous IRPF and retenciones system, but even that, they can walk you through it) and one to the TGSS) and she could always hire an asesor for accounting purposes after if needed.

EDIT: I should add, if it's anything like here in Madrid, that you can just walk in to the TGSS but you need to book a meeting for the Agencia Tributaria (phone or internet).

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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 10:52:02

DavRom

Posts: 310
Joined: Jul. 16 2015
From: De camino a Sevilla

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to orsonw)

that was awesome! thx for posting

quote:

ORIGINAL: orsonw

Or possibly a more expensive one.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 12:11:15

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to DavRom)

Piwin tx for that but I'm trying to get her to think like a brit and not a spaniard. The priority is earn more and not spend less - which apart from corruption I think is Spain's biggest problem.

Interestingly we have had to go to an online asesoria from Madrid. The other issue I have is IVA. No one here I have spoken to seems to understand that she does not need to collect it from UK VAT registered clients. The guys in Madrid of course understood straight away. But sadly she believes what the people around here say

But back to Flamenco. A local bar has cante and toque Friday and Saturday night. It's a kilometer away so I can get away to that

I'll sneak a recording. Don't hold your breath, it's free and for locals and Spanish tourists

But whatever it lacks in quality I'm sure it will make up for in atmosphere

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 13:41:08

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to Piwin)

Sorry that last one was not in reply to Davrom but Piwin.

edguerin that would be funny but here it is very real

After two meetings with the authorities here about getting married, one on a remote commercial park, neither of which offered anything we'll be off to Gib in October. £1000 more but worth every penny for sanity

ps That's it, no more non flamenco from me

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 13:51:25

Piwin

Posts: 3563
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

Haha I get what you mean, not thinking like a Spaniard

, but it's not so much about spending less than having more control over your business and getting the right information straight from the source. I've learned the hard way that if your accountant/asesor makes a mistake, you're still the one who's liable, so you end up double-checking everything anyway (I had some doubts about one particular Intra-European client and whether VAT was applicable or not. I came out with the full legal texts with the applicable parts highlighted and a signed written document attesting that such person in the Agencia Tributaria had given me the go-ahead. Full coverage as it were.) But if you found an asesor you can trust, all the better!

Look forward to the informal recording of the local bar!
Cheers,

PS: sorry just saw the "no more non flamenco for me" line now

moving on!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 14:06:18

Morante

Posts: 2182
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

After two meetings with the authorities here about getting married, one on a remote commercial park, neither of which offered anything we'll be off to Gib in October. £1000 more but worth every penny for sanity

You sound like a typical Brit (Gib, por favor!) . Go to the British consulate in Málaga who are very helpful and nothing about 1000 euros.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 14:25:26

Cervantes

Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

ORIGINAL: flyeogh

Cervantes just love the coverage here on tv. But next year promised myself motogp at Jerez.

Its going to be an epic battle this year with Froome, Contador, Quintana and Kruijswijk all in it.

_____________________________

Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco
very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 15:55:05

Morante

Posts: 2182
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Living near Cadiz since November (in reply to Morante)

Gibraltar is one of the most corrupt places in Europe: corruption is the only reason for its continued existence.

The office of the British Consulate in Málaga is friendly and helpful. It is true that they charge for every document which has to be officially translated, but this is understandable. It certainly would not cost 1000 euros, which you could spend on the wedding reception.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2016 17:51:55