Carl Froch to move to spain.

[Coco]

I live in Spain, pay 90 euros a year council tax, a beer is just over a euro, ciggies are under 3 euro, there are not speed cameras everywhere, no car tax, 85 cents a litre of diesal, the banks are in good shape, didn't have to spend trillions bailing them out, year round sun, the people are nice. My rubbish gets taken every week, no limit on how much I throw away, there are police always round the corner, I really don't know what we pay our taxes for in Britain.
I worked hard at home, made a decent living, felt ripped off by bank charges and taxes, feel much better about life now. Even parking everywhere is pretty much free

[Autobarn]

what about the stress of having to deal with ppl in your 2nd language?

[Coco]

Not great planning Carl. Spanish unemployment is expected to increase to 5 million in the next year and the socialist government is talking of raising the tax rates "for the rich", i.e. the higher tax bands, to pay the dole bill and to appease the unions in return for easing employment legislation and making it easier to hire and fire people.

On the other hand he can get a*holed every night at Bigmark's bar who can then give us all the dirt on boxrec DD

Do it !

You only get dole in Spain if you have already paid into the system in the first place, so you can only get back what you have put in.
In Spain you don't get bugger all for bugger all. This is one reason immigrants by-pass Spain and head straight for Britain, it's not for the weather!

[Coco]

what about the stress of having to deal with ppl in your 2nd language?

There are many places to live in Spain where English is the first language, and there are also a lot of ex-pat support systems.
Conversly I live in a very Spanish area, but for me the challenge of learning the language was appealing, i've had my ups and downs but after a year it is getting better, even passed by basic Spanish exams this week. I'm a long way off fluency but I can get by, and Benidorm is only a couple of hours down the road if I feel the need to top up on a bit of Brit culture!

[banjo]

People seem to forget that more Spaniards speak English than Brits speak Spanish.

[Coco]

People seem to forget that more Spaniards speak English than Brits speak Spanish.

Depends where you go, in the typical Brit areas you do, but that is only a small part of Spain, outside of those areas essentially they don't speak much, Spain is quite an insular country

[DG.]

Why don't you?

Find a job abroad.

If I can do it in Russia, I'm damn sure it's possible in the EU, where you have equal employment rights as the native citizens of your chosen country.

I agree, Carbo can barely string a sentence together, but he has a job!

[Carbo]

Why don't you?

Find a job abroad.

If I can do it in Russia, I'm damn sure it's possible in the EU, where you have equal employment rights as the native citizens of your chosen country.

I agree, Carbo can barely string a sentence together, but he has a job!

And a job for which stringing sentences together is of vital import.

See what can be achieved?

[Chambers2]

I like the idea of living abroad, but I know I couldn't (and wouldn't want to) live away my friends and family

[DG.]

Why don't you?

Find a job abroad.

If I can do it in Russia, I'm damn sure it's possible in the EU, where you have equal employment rights as the native citizens of your chosen country.

I agree, Carbo can barely string a sentence together, but he has a job!

And a job for which stringing sentences together is of vital import.

See what can be achieved?

Vital import?

Are you a typist?

[DG.]

I like the idea of living abroad, but I know I couldn't (and wouldn't want to) live away my friends and family

Funny, they say the exact opposite about you!

[Asterix]

what about the stress of having to deal with ppl in your 2nd language?

There are many places to live in Spain where English is the first language, and there are also a lot of ex-pat support systems.
Conversly I live in a very Spanish area, but for me the challenge of learning the language was appealing, i've had my ups and downs but after a year it is getting better, even passed by basic Spanish exams this week. I'm a long way off fluency but I can get by, and Benidorm is only a couple of hours down the road if I feel the need to top up on a bit of Brit culture!

Learning the language is part of the appeal for me as well. It's important for me to keep learning things. Good to hear things are going well for you. Any advice or tips you could share?

[Coco]

what about the stress of having to deal with ppl in your 2nd language?

There are many places to live in Spain where English is the first language, and there are also a lot of ex-pat support systems.
Conversly I live in a very Spanish area, but for me the challenge of learning the language was appealing, i've had my ups and downs but after a year it is getting better, even passed by basic Spanish exams this week. I'm a long way off fluency but I can get by, and Benidorm is only a couple of hours down the road if I feel the need to top up on a bit of Brit culture!

Learning the language is part of the appeal for me as well. It's important for me to keep learning things. Good to hear things are going well for you. Any advice or tips you could share?

I think doing something new, esp a big thing like relocation will always have it's ups and downs and you just have to be a bit stubborn and see things out to make the best of things. It's a state of mind really, I think you need to have a confident 'can do' mentality. And waking up to sunshine does make a real difference for me.
In terms of mixing, I have always found it quite easy just be cheerful and make an effort.
Language wise have been taking a class at the local school, a years course for only 60 euros! I dunno whether things will work out for me here but i'm giving it a proper go, if not i'll just have a new adventure somewhere else.
Saying that I can't see myself ever going back home, living in a tax burdened nanny state became a real issue for me. I felt penalised for working hard, when the spongers are on a free ride.

[Asterix]

I think doing something new, esp a big thing like relocation will always have it's ups and downs and you just have to be a bit stubborn and see things out to make the best of things. It's a state of mind really, I think you need to have a confident 'can do' mentality. And waking up to sunshine does make a real difference for me.
In terms of mixing, I have always found it quite easy just be cheerful and make an effort.
Language wise have been taking a class at the local school, a years course for only 60 euros! I dunno whether things will work out for me here but i'm giving it a proper go, if not i'll just have a new adventure somewhere else.
Saying that I can't see myself ever going back home, living in a tax burdened nanny state became a real issue for me. I felt penalised for working hard, when the spongers are on a free ride.

Thanks for the reply, Marc. I'm definitely energised for it, and I naturally have a happy disposition, so I'm going to give it all I've got. Perhaps the hardest thing for me will be constantly pushing myself to go and do new things and strike up conversations with strangers. But it can only help me in the long run.
60 euros! Haha. That's probably one lesson over here. I'm learning from a Michel Thomas CD box set and Rosetta Stone language software. The Michel Thomas CDs are fantastic. He does Spanish as well, if you're interested.
Like you, I'm going to give it a go, and if it doesn't work I'll try somewhere else. I don't want to live in England. It just doesn't appeal to me at the moment. Though I will come back often because of family, friends and simply because I love the country.

[Loynesy]

Is it as high as 50%? I thought it was 40% for people who earn over 40K per annum?

Still, 50% is too high.

From next April it is 50% on all income above 150K.

I know this is a boxing forum and not a political debating ground, but this is just too high. I wouldn't maind paying it if it was earmarked for better education and healthcare, for example by Danish in-laws and Swedish friends pretty much accept higher taxes as the social system is so much better there, but it was a purely political move by Darling to grab some headlines - the actual amount extra it will add to the Treasury reserves is relatively small.

Rant over.

[yiddo14]

60 Euro for a years course????
Mental!

I'm just about to part with 70 quid for 12 weeks over here, which I thought was pretty good.
Coffee Break Spanish is helping me along in the meantime. Good little podcast, with a very catchy theme tune too!

[Coco]

I'll even get a qualifacation for passing this year, prob equivalent to a GNVQ or something!
I also find the net is a real lifeline for contact with friend and info from back home, it would be impossible to cut yourself off completely.
And with cheap flights you can always pick up a 50 quid return fare for trips back home, Spain is only 2 hours away

[Autobarn]

go to spain and do a scott harrison

[Coco]

I agree Spain is a bit backward but that isn't always a bad thing, ok nothing is open on a Sunday, which is pretty much the same for lunchtimes but family values and respect for the community seems very much in evidence. I think it would be much better to retire here rather than having to run around and earn your corn, I can see that being pretty frustrating. Spaniards would prefer to take a year to do 3 months work, ok they will only earn a quarter of what they could but as long as they have enough for a few beers. They have that kind of manana attitude, in fact that may make them the clever ones! I bet none of them have had an ulcer!
I get the impression Brits have made a bad impression about themselves and this does have implications for decent folk living in/near enough to those areas.
Where I am Brits are still a novelty so I feel I get treated well because I have made the effort

[banjo]

go to spain and do a scott harrison

Why? Just do it here and get a tag

[Coco]

go to spain and do a scott harrison

there are more people who come here and behave than dont. Where i live its a lot of families who come on holiday and a lot of old folk who live here through the winter.

Coco, how long have you lived here? because i used think like you but now have seen the country for what it really is. Example: i went to the town hall today for the third year in a row to pay my council tax because i never received a bill. for the last two years i have given them my address but they still fail to send me the bill and every year fine me for late payment. My council tax is 265 euros and yes there is car tax.

I've been here a year, maybe I will change my mind, but I speak as I find. My council tax is 90 euros a year compared to 150 quid a month at home, I do pay 30 euros a month for my urbanisation tax tho(upkeep of gardens, pool etc)
The car tax entwined in the insurance.
Even so our taxation burden is minimal in comparison esp when you factor in the lack of indirect taxes on consumer goods

[Coco]

When I was at home I got double frustrated when I couldn't get things done on time and services for that sort of thing are far worse in Spain. Work wise I like to think I was quite successful, but then I did have an ulcer!
I've had a real lifestyle change here, which has been great for my health and state of mind, but then i'm making bugger all dough, I prob need to find a balance somewhere, but then i've always been a person of extremes!

[hitman_hatton1]

I'll even get a qualifacation for passing this year, prob equivalent to a GNVQ or something!
I also find the net is a real lifeline for contact with friend and info from back home, it would be impossible to cut yourself off completely.
And with cheap flights you can always pick up a 50 quid return fare for trips back home, Spain is only 2 hours away

Generally Not Very Qualified.

[hitman_hatton1]

if i won the lottery i'd come and live next door to ya bigmark.

get pissed in ya bar all day bad santa stylee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR69VbdB ... re=related

[Coco]

I'm on a bit of a sabbatical really, so fortunately I haven't had to deal with those things. I hope my life isn't soured by those things but at the end of the day i'm a realist, saying that if things go tits up, I haven't any ties so i'll pack up and adventure somewhere else!