Any mums in Spain want to chat?

[skydancer1]

That's it really. I'm English (DP too). We have a two year old boy and live in Valencia.

Haha Hi SuperSoph thanks I don't really know Spain at all (probably mad to move but really want a change of scenery) DP lived in Tenerife for a while- should I keep that quiet?

LOL crumpette ... probably If you fancy a change of scene just go for it. If you're lucky enough to not have to worry about finances for a while then at least you've got a chance to try it out. You could always move back again!

Yes, I definitely want to leave the UK. Really can't see myself sending DS to school in London, and now seems like as good a time to move as any as whatever we do will involve a big change. DP has a house which is part rented out, would be a logistical nightmare to take care of it from abroad but would provide some income. Will be offline for a while but back in day or two if anyone has any tips/ knows of any good websites that could help? Thanks

I'll have a look for some websites for you crumpette. Am off now too, back tomorrow will post then .... as I can't remember the addresses!!!!

Crumpette - here are a couple of websites for you to look at. Haven't had a good chance to go through them properly but it may give you something to start with

www.spainexpat.com
www.new2spain.co.uk

Ah thank you so much SuperSoph- (should be off MN doing stuff but am here anyway!)

will save those sites and have a read

funnily enough after my sniggering DP has now announced he 'would move to Tenerife tomorrow' and would prefer it to mainland Spain !

LOL crumpette Men can never make their minds up can they Tell him you know someone fabulous in Gran Canaria and it's much nicer than Tenerife ... although quieter If I find anything else useful I'll let you know.

Hi all

Crumpette I live in a small seaside village in Northern Spain. I love it now, but it took me a while. We used to live in London and decided to move out to Spain, mainly needed to change pace of life, settling down kids on the way etc. DP is Spainsh so kind of helps, although he´´s not from where we live.

Its a great place to bring up children, the attitude is much more open and child friendly than UK. I´´ve not ruled out moving back to Uk in future but wouldn´´t consider it whilst DS1 (&DC to be) are still children, it´´s so much better for them here lifestyle wise.

As far where to go, Spain is huge and very diverse. I like the north as not too good with very hot weather, the climate here is similar to UK but better IYKWIM!!!.

Hope the rest of you OK. Im now 26 wks, and looking the part. Ds1 is so lovely, he shows the pictures in his books to "baby in Mummys belly". Otherwise things pretty uneventful, life going as normal. looking forward to winding for the summer holidays and getting down to the beach more!!!!

Hey patito nice to hear you're feeling well. Only another 6 weeks to go till the end of term - yay! We're actually going back to England for a couple of weeks in July and I'm really looking forward to it. I've already primed my mum to get in loads of hayfever tablets. I don't suffer from hayfever over here but I just know that I'll step off the plane at Gatwick and start sneezing

Hello, patito thanks for advice, I've twisted DPs arm enough DP has agreed we're definitely moving, hurrah. Probably not until 2011 now though due to ongoing legal issues and current lease and me returning to work, but we are definitely moving. I want to move before DS gets much bigger as I think he'd benefit linguistically from an earlier move.

DP set on Tenerife still but other than Sta Cruz or Puerto in Tenerife (which I fear may be a little bit quiet) it's Sevilla or Valencia. I want somewhere that's not massive and impersonal but still has a lot going on so nobody can complain they're bored! In a year or two we then hope to buy a place.

If I speak Spanish with a Mexican accent, are there any areas I should avoid- will I be laughed at for being unable to speak 'properly'? I have spent so long not lisping I can't start now
am also probably a bit slow- this is what scares me a bit about Madrid

Otherwise, I shall hopefully rejoin you in due course. patito congratulations!! Not too long to go

^ slow speaking, not slow as in thick, honest

LOL @ crumpette Don't worry too much about your accent. The canarians have so many different accents it's unbelievable. The majority of them are just impressed that us "guiris" (foreigners) attempt to speak the language & don't just speak English in a louder voice and slower LOL!!

Hi Skydancer. We live in Valencia too. We have been here 5 years now, DH and I are both English. Our DD is 1. Sorry you are finding it isolating, I know how hard it can be. Give me a yell, not sure how...if you want to meet up.

Hi Patito & others,

I've been in the UK for 10 years, moved around a bit as DH is from Oxfordshire but we are priced out of anywhere half nice in the South. Came to Sheffield five years ago, had a look around, seemed a good bet with the greenery and all the regeneration and we could afford a beautiful home. But I so miss our life on Oxon, plus winters here are too hard for me (not enough daylight, gets to me every year).
Expecting DD for Sept/ Oct and hoping to spend a few months in VLC after that. My family and friends adore my DH but it would be good for him if we had some English speaking friends too for our time there, so any recommendations of places to hang out in VLC city to meet English families with babies or people who'd like to meet up, much appreciated!

Hi all

Ah yes those dark and long South Yorkshire winters, and summers come to that!

life here going along well, not much to comment on at all really. Ive started antenatal classes and was gasped at for saying Id be having a home birth, then when I said Id already had one there was a general look of and cries of "what no drugs at all!!!!!!!!!!!!" . So I think Ive labelled myself as the hippy foriegner in the group.

LOL Patito, 'hippy' was exactly the description I thought they'd use/think : ) DH has noticed how much people conform in Spain in general (eg. same haircut, glasses, etc for people over a certain age) and way less brightly coloured hairdos than here (purple, blue or guy with bright pink long hair in VLC? I think not) even though it's become more modern than 10 years ago it's traditional at heart. When is your baby due?
Chica - Are you based in Valencia capital or somewhere near the city? I'd really like to meet some of you when we go over for our extended visit this winter : )

Hi Everyone, hope you're all well. Crumpette - I speak Spanish with a Venezuelan accent and have no trouble, my spanish friends have said that I sound like a soap opera cos most of the soaps over here are from Venezuela !

Chica & Futuremum, I am based just outside Valencia so let me know if you are planning to meet up - it'd be nice to meet some other English mums.

Hi Twig (or should I say fan of culebrones?)

Whereabouts near Valencia are you? I will be based in Valencia capital but we are not drivers, so will need to travel around by public transport or meet somewhere baby friendly.
BTW, I am planning to breastfeed, and I must admit I don't know what the breastfeeding etiquette is in VLC? Also, are there plenty of nappy changing facilities in bars, restaurants, shops, etc or will I be relying in bigger places like El Corte Ingles? Thank you!
FutureMum (in another gloomy Yorkshire morning, in need of some sunshine and a plate of paella)

hiya, sorry I didn't reply for so long, I've been to Xativa for 3 days on a school residential trip. I missed my DD more than I ever thought I would, but the children in my class had a great time.

I live in Sagunto, only 20 mins outside the city. We used to live in Valencia capital, but moved about 3 years ago. We love it in Sagunto, but I really want a garden now DD is able to toddle around. I don't think we can afford to move at the moment.

I breast fed all over Valencia, the only problem was old ladies stopping to chat to tell me how wonderful it was !!!

Baby changing facilities are few and far between, I normally change DD on my knee on the loo. But if I am in the city I always head for El Corte Ingles.

I am a driver so I can get any where, plus Sagunto is on the train line.

There is a women's group I used to go to when I was on maternity leave. They meet up at the Hipercor. I think it was the first Thursday of the month.
www.iwc-valencia.com/

I have just found out I am pregnant again!!! Off to the midwife on Wednesday for our first appointment.

Hi Chica,

So you are a teacher - oh yes, Sagunto, I remember when I was a teenager the scandal about the 'restoration' of the Roman theatre.
We have a tiny garden here and live near a large park, but in the last 3 years the weather has been poor, we've been sitting outside maybe four times a summer : (
Congrats on your pregnancy, that's great news. You must be very excited, hope it all goes well for you : )
It'd be fab to meet up and I will check the link you sent me - is there any way that we can send private messages to exchange e-mail addresses? (not sure how to do this!)
Kind regards,

FuturMum

Hi Chica,

So you are a teacher - oh yes, Sagunto, I remember when I was a teenager the scandal about the 'restoration' of the Roman theatre.
We have a tiny garden here and live near a large park, but in the last 3 years the weather has been poor, we've been sitting outside maybe four times a summer : (
Congrats on your pregnancy, that's great news. You must be very excited, hope it all goes well for you : )
It'd be fab to meet up and I will check the link you sent me - is there any way that we can send private messages to exchange e-mail addresses? (not sure how to do this!)
Kind regards,

FuturMum

Hi

Congratulations on the new bump chica We were up your way the other weekend - went to Canet - what a lovely beach.

Futurmum I breast fed my dd and had no problems. We're near the racing ciruit at Cheste, in a village about 20 mins from the city.

We tend to go to an out of town shopping centre called Bonaire, on the A3 motorway and they have good breastfeeding rooms and changing facilities. There doesn't seem to be many other places that are that well equiped though.

If you work out how to send private messages we could arrange to meet up once you are settled.

Hi ladies,

Yes, Canet is lovely, my uncle had a flat there and we went a couple of times, although most times I went with other relatives to Gandia I remember Canet as being v nice.
I've been to Sagunto but don't think I've been to Cheste - funny how you don't visit places near your hometown sometimes! I've been to Bonaire once, I think.
It's interesting to hear the breastfeeding comments and a relief because it was worrying me. I had no memories of seeing other women breastfeeding around when I was young, selective memory I guess.
Once I find out how to send private messages, I will be on the case to meet up. We are hoping to be there from early Dec for about six months, everything being well - that's the plan anyway!
Seems so far away now, still another 3 and a half months till DD is due, can't wait to meet our cutie one!

Hi everyone,

We love Canet beach too, we often went swimming there after work in the summer. The beach at Puerto de Sagunto is lovely too, plus bars are close to the beach to quickly heat up food.

They are still protesting about the Roman remains. Do they take it all down? Leave it up?

I went to the hospital today to have a dating scan, I am 7 weeks 4 days. I did have to wait for 2 hours to find that out!

Where are the feeding rooms in Bon Aire? Last time I went I followed the signs round and round and couldn't find them. When I asked the security guard he pointed to the loo, with a small smelly room off it. I just fed DD in the cafe instead.

I don't know how to do emails either sorry.

Hi everyone,

Welcome Chica31,

Hope everyones enjoying the start of the summer hols here.

I passed my driving test this week!!!! Couldn´´t believe how easy it was, about 15 mins all in all and that was after starting with the hand brake still on . Maybe the examiner went easy on me for being heavily pregnant.

x