“Why are you going”? is a question we have often been asked over the last two years or so. Our Spanish and English friends cannot understand it although they are well aware of the fact that so much has changed in the UK that we are drawn to return. Mainly, we miss our three fantastic grandchildren and whilst the occasional visits to see them in the UK are very special, it can never be the same as living five miles away. I always imagined myself on a metaphorical terrace, sat on a wooden rocking chair, imparting words of wisdom to my grandchildren. Fanciful I know but when our occasional visits to the UK involve seeing them at my mother’s house when visits coincide, at their house for an hour after they have left school and the rare opportunity to go to the seaside for fish and chips, you can see where I am coming from. It is nobody’s fault but ours for choosing to live abroad. That’s the way it is, especially as the grandchildren are never likely to see where we live now we are selling up. So, the mountain must go to mohammed.

There are of course other reasons for considering the move. My Mother’s failing health for one. Although she has no life threatening illness, she is, I believe suffering from the early stages of dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. Her short term memory is immensely poor and spends the majority of her days in bed with “a bad back”. The pressure of trying to keep Mum at home with the help of Social Services, falls on the shoulders of my two sisters and we can very rarely ease any of that burden whilst we live here.

Of course, none of us is getting any younger and the pills taken daily, keep increasing in number and variety. Working on the land is only possible for me in short bursts and the prospect of a replacement knee in the not too distant future does not help. All in all, a final move to the UK seems to be the sensible option. Also, of course, there is the possibility that the UK will leave the EU and may make our house unsaleable, or maybe not but it is not worth the risk. I think we will stay in the EU though!

We would of course miss our friends in Spain immensely but we would always come back to see them. Our UK friends we see regularly in both countries so would continue our very good friendships with them anyway. Many of our families stopped coming years ago.

As for the weather…well that would be a big upheaval to leave this climate. Everyone feels better in the sun. Especially when arthritis , rheumatism and tendinitis set in. The cold damp weather is not good but one can always hop onto a plane to sunnier climes and that would be my plan.

We would be exchanging the Spanish Health Service for the NHS but that would make little difference. We have been well looked after here and have always been referred to and seen by specialists in  very quick time where required. I believe in the NHS and am confident that it may only be a little less efficient. I don’t think it would be better.

Clearly the cost of living in the UK is higher in most circumstances but we would not be running two residences with their attendant costs, rates, electric, gas, maintenance, telephones, two sets of clothing, 4 TVs etc and we would have one rather than three cars. I think our annual costs would be reduced by at least €2000/€3000. (A holiday in Spain or similar for the winter months?)

What else would I miss? Our swimming pool. The cheap lunches in local restaurants. The cheap Indian Restaurants. The cheap gin, wine, beer etc., etc. Great times with visiting friends. Our lovely house. Murcia in general. Alhama in particular. Cheap fuel. Warm nights on the patio by the pool with friends and “refreshments”. I could go on. Enough now! I’m feeling morose!