I’m pleased we have emigrated back to the UK from Spain. Our home in Spain was in a very small hamlet where our only reliable neighbours were Bill and Irene. They are now back in Scotland and surrounded by family so they will all look after each other. Back in the UK we are kept very well informed about the very fluid situation. We would have had some dificulty in our Spanish home which was 5 miles from the nearest supermarket. Our GP though, was nearby and spoke perfect English so he would have been a great help to us all.

What is it about the panic buying public here. Fighting in supermarket aisles for toilet and kitchen rolls and pasta apparently. Shameful behaviour. People accusing each other of being rude and unfriendly when we should be pleasant and helpful towards each other.

Since our return to the UK, one of the tasks we had set ourselves was to make a new will. We have no Spanish assets any more and so it should be an easier task. It is pure coincidence that our appolntment is just as we need to be extra careful about our health.

One of the things (and there are a few) that we will not miss about Spain and that is the beaurocracy. It was awful. From the buying and selling and taxing of cars to dealing with the town hall about your own property. The problem is that the rules are different in each region and we always needed a proficient translator who not only knew the language (even though our Spanish was not too bad) but also knew the system. We were lucky to have a wonderful chap called Simon who we always took with us when the need arose although he was not always needed when we realised our Spanish was OK or at least passable. It was still good to have Simon as backup.

My little voluntary cleaning job at The East Riding Theatre in Beverley  has been postponed until July as the theatre is closing down until then at least. I have just had a copy email sent to me in which the theatre management (mostly volunteers) have asked as many as can afford to, to donate their ticket money to help keep the building open ready for restarting a some point in the future. I do not think it will be an easy task but I will help if I can, It is a wonderful place and the management hope to help in the community in these difficult tmes. All power  to their elbow.