All things must pass

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

All things must pass - going home

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Off Topic >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Escribano

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

All things must pass - going home

After 3 years living in Andalucía, I am returning to the UK next week for another adventure.

I got an offer from Microsoft I could not refuse. Apparently they missed me so, I am going home, pretty much into the job I left but for more money

Just couldn't turn that one down - money and work are very tight down here and I am too young to retire.

My girlfriend (Baby Carrot) will be moving over from Mexico to join me and I really can't wait for that. We will probably be based in Bath.

Ahhh.... phoning for a pizza, DVD rental, Indian food, going for a Chinese, bookshops, walking to more than one bar and restaurant, Sunday papers delivered, sausage and mash, cheddar cheese, pork pies, crumpets, film school weekends, other Mustang owners...

And then there is the rain, long dark winters, cost of living, Euro 2008 football, Gordon Brown - hang on a minute???

Too late, it is done. All things must pass.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 16:53:44

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

Hi Simon,
All the best wishes for your "new " live!
Time is moving fast, it seems like yesterday you moved to Granada...

Peter

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 17:02:59

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

I would never have expected this.
They must offer you a lot of money.
Do you still have spare time for the foro ?

Anyway, good luck !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 17:22:12

henrym3483

Posts: 1584
Joined: Nov. 13 2005
From: Limerick,Ireland

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to koella)

good on ya simon. are you selling your house and stuff?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 17:38:44

Escribano

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

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to koella)

quote:

I would never have expected this.
They must offer you a lot of money.
Do you still have spare time for the foro ?

Umm, I never do the expected
It's enough money, compared to nothing
Yes, I will still host the forum

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 17:48:35

Escribano

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

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to henrym3483)

quote:

good on ya simon. are you selling your house and stuff?

Thanks. Not decided yet. Probably sit on it for a while and watch the market down here.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 17:49:55

henrym3483

Posts: 1584
Joined: Nov. 13 2005
From: Limerick,Ireland

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

Not decided yet. Probably sit on it for a while and watch the market down here.

good plan, then retire again for another few years and take "gardening pay"
one of my mates is on gardening pay from IBM lucky sod

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 18:15:19

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

Make a fast buck by programming Vista 2009 for them and go back to Andalucia

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 19:10:45

Estevan

Posts: 1936
Joined: Dec. 20 2006
From: Torontolucía

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

Indian food, going for a Chinese,....., sausage and mash, cheddar cheese, pork pies, crumpets,

...and zoider, m'dear. In a while you'll be playing wurzel-flamenco fusion.

_____________________________

Me da igual. La música es música.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 20:08:17

Escribano

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

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Estevan)

quote:

and zoider, m'dear. In a while you'll be playing wurzel-flamenco fusion.

That is zomerset m'beauty - where the zider apples grow. Home of my fathers

And they have cider in Asturias anyway. I had it on Xmas day in Mexico of all places!

Gotta find those old keys to my combine 'arvester now. The one with wine-down windals

Oh yes, The Wurzels were from Bridgwater, where my Dad lived and I was a grave-digger for a while, jejeje.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 21:06:35

Escribano

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

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to henrym3483)

quote:

good plan, then retire again for another few years and take "gardening pay"

Funny you should mention that. There is a "Gardening Leave" clause in my contract that says that if I am crap they can sack me, send me home but they have to carry on paying me. Never saw that before. Ummmmmmm, I wonder?

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 21:09:50

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

A lot of good luck Simon. You will be missed. We are loosing one down here. Dont sell the house yet. Its a bad time. Wait a couple of years if you can.

And. Play that very very nice and sweet guitar I made you.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 21:27:05

Samarto

Posts: 160
Joined: Mar. 21 2008

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

Simon, I would trade pizza and Chinese food anyday for a good Spanish cooks tapas or paella dish. Sad that money has to rule our lives, but it does. I was planning to go spend time around Granada when I retired, but I retired early due to seriuous nerve damage and now I can't fly or change altitudes over 500 feet. I think you got it right ... go to Spain to live first, then leave to work for more money later. At least you did it. Best wishes on your move....

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 22:38:04

Escribano

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

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

Play that very very nice and sweet guitar I made you.

Yes, it is a very sweet, very special guitar. She goes home with me in the passenger seat. One day, in the middle of a dark English afternoon... I will tune it up and I will probably choke up

But let's not get too sentimental. Anders, you clearly make some of the best flamenco guitars in the world, because that is what you do. You feel flamenco - a forum cannot even begin to discuss it. You know what I mean.

You will understand this.... down here is a test. One which you do not fail, only learn from.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 23:05:25

Mark2

Posts: 1871
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

Very exciting Simon. Best of luck to you in your new venture!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2008 23:35:39

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

You will understand this.... down here is a test. One which you do not fail, only learn from.

I sure understand. After 7 years its still a test for me. And if it wasnt for Sole, my wonderfull spanish girlfriend, I´m not to sure I would be here.

Amongst foreigners not living here, incl. some or many forum members, there´s this idea that living in Spain is Soooo nice and that the spaniards are such nice people. When you live here you find out other things. Its a VERY egoistic society and noone helps you. You stand there in front of the desk of this grumpy person with your papers and you best intentions and they just send you somewhere else where you dont know what to do either.
Another thing is money.. Spain is expensive now, but its almost impossible to earn more than 1000,- euros a month if you dont know someone who knows someone, and you dont!!!
Your world, the Computer world, is still on level with the stoneage here. There´s absolutely nothing to come for there.

Being a foreigner wanting to live here, the best is to bring your job and/or your money. Then I can imagine its great. The Spanish leave you in peace, the sun is shining, the paella is nice and the wine is even better. But even so..... My mother lives in Almuñecar now. She´s retired and she´s struggling with things.

So, when back, pick up that guitar and you´ll feel good about it because as Samato said, you did it and you know. And if Microsoft gives you some vacation, you´ll be able to enjoy Spain a lot more. And you wont need to listen to the neighbours shouting out loud the whole day right in front of your door.

Its not the place that matters, but the life you live.

Enjoy life and make Microsoft smile and donate some more money to poor guitarbuilders.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 7:08:23

Ailsa

Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

@ Anders, interesting post. I think you are right that people view what it might be like to live in Spain through rose-tinted glasses.

@ Simon. Well Bath is a lovely city, and with Carrot with you I'm sure you'll be very happy back here. Cold, but happy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 10:30:20

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson
there´s this idea that living in Spain is Soooo nice and that the spaniards are such nice people. When you live here you find out other things.

Ah Anders, I take it your girlfriend is one of the nice ones :) See there are some lovely people here. I have some amazing kind and generous friends. And yes I've met some ****s as well, same goes for all over.

Simon I think that Carrot is going to enjoy the UK very much and you can always come back whenever you want to soak up some sunshine and listen to the neighbours loudly discuss their oranges. You'll get the best of both worlds. Bath is a lovely place .

When do you leave ? If you get into Granada before you go call us and we'll have a drink. Not Adios but hasta luego.

Kate and Harold

_____________________________

Emilio Maya Temple
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emiliomaya

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 11:33:36

Stu

Posts: 2529
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Kate)

Good luck man, was it an easy decision??

quote:

Ahhh.... phoning for a pizza, DVD rental, Indian food, going for a Chinese, bookshops, walking to more than one bar and restaurant, Sunday papers delivered, sausage and mash, cheddar cheese, pork pies, crumpets, film school weekends, other Mustang owners...

And then there is the rain, long dark winters, cost of living, Euro 2008 football, Gordon Brown - hang on a minute???

You picked out some nice some nice little snipets of english life there, made me feel a little nostalgic, I'd have to add "A Nice cup of English Breakfast Tea" to the list

As for the Long dark winters. the Summers are now was pretty long and dark, and Wet!! Hopefully this year will be different otherwise ill be heading in the opposite direction!!

Im not sure how much fun Euro 2008 will be with out england?!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 11:56:12

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

Dont sell the house yet. Its a bad time. Wait a couple of years if you can.

Yeah Simon...it's also a bit of a tricky time to buy in the UK too, with mortgage rates rising and house prices falling.
Some of the pessimist financial commentators are saying it could even be up to 40% over time, but I think this is a bit drastic.
The more moderates are saying maybe up to 15%, and the cheerier ones saying about 5%.
So it's a case of getting the timing right and maybe renting or something until the volatility calms down a bit.
(Would be brilliant to slam a casher down right at the bottom of the market!

)

Good luck anyway....Bath sounds nice!

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 16:33:05

Escribano

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

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

Would be brilliant to slam a casher down right at the bottom of the market!

That is my cunning plan

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 17:04:47

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

Ahhh.... phoning for a pizza, DVD rental, Indian food, going for a Chinese, bookshops, walking to more than one bar and restaurant, Sunday papers delivered, sausage and mash, cheddar cheese, pork pies, crumpets, film school weekends, other Mustang owners...

And then there is the rain, long dark winters, cost of living, Euro 2008 football, Gordon Brown

Damn Simon, I had my heart set on movie to Andalucia someday. Now, I think I'm moving to Bath.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 19:10:13

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

That is my cunning plan

Heard today on the radio that a few underpriced properties are available here and there..like the £300,000 house offered for a quick sale at £250,000 due to client "pressure".

Only that it's just a "Marketing Hype" dreamt up by the Estate Agents, 'cos they were only hoping for about £240,000 in the first place!

It's an ill wind and all that....

Don't you just love 'em..!

cheers,

Ron

(Edit....In case it wasn't clear in my story, the house was never ever evaluated at £300,000 in the first place.
It was just "A Marketing Strategy" as confessed by someone in the profession.
Mind you, there are professional criminals...

)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 19:40:37

Samarto

Posts: 160
Joined: Mar. 21 2008

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

Amongst foreigners not living here, incl. some or many forum members, there´s this idea that living in Spain is Soooo nice and that the spaniards are such nice people. When you live here you find out other things. Its a VERY egoistic society and noone helps you. You stand there in front of the desk of this grumpy person with your papers and you best intentions and they just send you somewhere else where you dont know what to do either.

This agrees with everything I have heard since my original interest in Spain in 1971. No different than where I live ... no one cares about you unless they have something to gain by helping you ... money talks BS walks! At least in Spain there is flamenco and food I like. Just a dream for me anyway....

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 15 2008 20:24:17

Estevan

Posts: 1936
Joined: Dec. 20 2006
From: Torontolucía

RE: All things must pass - going home (in reply to Stu)

quote:

Im not sure how much fun Euro 2008 will be with out england?!

Less painful and embarassing than usual?

Just chanced upon this odd item - apparently it's been suggested that English (and other UK) fans should now support Spain, home of sun, sand, bullfights, rioja, and....maracas???

Reino Unido apoyará a España en la Eurocopa

_____________________________

Me da igual. La música es música.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 16 2008 18:21:03