There is no doubt that Spain is a great place to live and enjoy its history, amazing food and fine wines, so long as you can tolerate and abide by the ever increasing laws and regulations.

Unemployment continues to drop, tourism is booming and infrastructures improve all around us, but we get demands such as the one from The Hacienda (tax department) requesting that those who reside here for over 183 days must declare all their worldwide assets!

This crazy law is keeping thousands of ex-pats from the sunny coasts. Locally in Torremolinos the Town Hall has imposed a tax of 154 euros on any awnings attached to public highways. Bar and restaurant owners are livid at yet another means of squeezing money out of them. The tax is spreading down the coast with massive fines for non-payment. Another law being discussed is that all swimming pools must be enclosed for safety reasons. Imagine the uproar this is going to cause. In 30 years we’ve never seen one pool drowning reported.

Last month Filip V1 took over the throne from his father, Juan Carlos, at a low key coronation ceremony. Most here feel it was about time, although two thirds of Spaniards want a referendum to vote on swapping the monarchy to become a republic. The new King’s brother in law – Inaki Urdangarin – is facing prison for alleged embezzlement and Filip’s sister, Cristina, is suspected of collaborating and could face up to 16 years jail.

If the UK does eventually decide to come out of Europe, all expats would cease to receive medical care and all pensions would be frozen. This would make us all re-think about our future in Spain.

Meanwhile, it’s bad news for those who aren’t fans of TV programme The Only Way Is Essex as only one day after the UK aired the latest show, searches for hotels and holidays jumped an unprecedented 72% in the glitzy town of Marbella as the cast hit town. My mate Colin and I decided to cycle on the beach side pathway fronting ‘The Golden Mile’, and we had to admit we saw posh places we had read about but never before discovered. La Sala is one of the hotspots where the fake tan brigade congregate till dawn, spraying thousands of pounds worth of champagne at each other in scanty outfits. Our two cups of tea cost £7.50 that morning.

Further up the coast, farmers face the worst drought in 150 years with some brutally dry areas totally out of water. This, of course, is a nightmare for firefighters who are once again ready to battle forest fires. And, finally near Banus, over 1,000 people queued overnight for 156 part-time jobs at a new beach bar, only to find that after the interviews they were greeted by parking tickets from the Guardia Civil!

At the Gibraltar border queues get longer despite a visit by European Union officials. There is much anger and frustration expressed, especially the 10,000 workers (mixed foreigners) who try to get in and out daily.

We have some wonderful friends here ... and several have Huddersfield connections.

This group (pictured) was part of a gathering at a barbecue in Benalmadena, Costa del Sol celebrating our friend Linda Wells’ birthday this month.

They are Brian and Elaine who first came to the Costa del Sol 30 years ago and continued visiting frequently up to deciding to live here in 1999. We are in the health, tax and political systems and, generally, still enjoy living here, although there are some irksome issues which frustrate us and other fellow ex-pats.

Malcolm and Val Golding are long-time friends of Linda and her husband, Jack, and have a family apartment in Benalmadena. This fascinating couple from Kent spend time here when they can and would like to live in Spain, but are too busy teaching and sharing the complex game of bridge. Ranked as two of the most experienced players in the UK after 30 years participating in it, they are in constant demand from major cruise liners to teach and lecture on the game to packed audiences while at sea. This month Malc and Val will enjoy The Arctic Circle cruise plus several other trips, then in January embark on a five month world cruise on The Balmoral.

Elaine and Allen Conroy also decided to buy a property around the same time as us on a Mijas Costa urbanisation and after some extensive high profile positions in the Middle East they are now retired and spend up to six months a year here.

They still visit Dubai and Huddersfield where they have family and friends. They are both immersed now in golf and improve their game – daily! Elaine assists with raising money for several animal rescue charities.

Jack and Linda Wells have lived in Benalmadena for 10 years where Jack is vice president of a large apartment development. Jack, a former entertainer with his band from Bradford performed at most of the working men’s clubs and cabaret clubs in and around Huddersfield for 17 years. He is also a keen golfer. Together they enjoy frequent trips to historic towns in the region.

Linda, who has family in Huddersfield, said at her party, “We are really settled here in Spain and definitely enjoy the lifestyle and could not have the same quality of life if we were to return to the UK.”

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