Although Almerimar is much bigger than your average village in England, it has certain similarities which can be frustrating, but mostly I really like.

Of course at times I venture to the markets in El Ejido or further afield to Almeria, and we like to ride the Harley, but on a day to day basis everything I need and want to do is within a 2 mile radius, including virtually everyone that I know here! This is such a change to my hectic life in England driving around all over the place, and arranging to meet friends sometimes weeks in advance and miles away, and although some days it can be a little claustrophobic, I generally see it as very positive.

As well as less tiring it makes for a much more spontaneous lifestyle and last night was a good example of this.

Chris and I fancied a night out but didn’t feel like planning anything, so when we were ready we just wandered down to the marina to see what was happening.

It was buzzing, being a Saturday night in August, and we started off in one of our regular little Spanish bars overlooking the boats in the first dársena. Within 10 minutes someone we hadn’t seen for months wandered past and joined us for a chat and a beer. Then as we wandered with him over towards the main square in the third dársena, we bumped into another couple with their son also going that way.

We ended up joining them for a drink in one of the new bars, where we found some more friends already inside, and had a really fun evening. To me that’s like village life; everyone you know mainly heading to the same place for a night out, with a good chance that you’ll meet somebody to have a chat with, and if by any chance you don’t nothing is lost as home is less than a mile away.