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Submitted by hammy11 on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 08:08.

hi, my name is Sarah Ellis, me & my familly are moving to Gran Canaria soon, I would love to get in touch with any ex-pats who are living on the Island, especially those who have children

‹ looking for work Hi Im new and need advice ›

Hola

Submitted by hillbill on Fri, 10/04/2009 - 20:19.

hi sarah,the weather is up to its usual tricks then!weather here is lovely as usual.the interview was working in a bar but i didnt get it.33 people attended the interview.so better luck next time!i will have a look for the numbers,i think they have a pool.baz could join my wag club,i hope not though as im ready for work now,getting bored and need to earn.based on what we have heard winter is the time to earn money here so as long as we can get through the summer we could be fine. 3 months off with the kids is good but hard with work.i think the holidays start in june then back in september.have you made progress with your move & do you have a date yet?bet you cant wait.believe us its well worth it and its only 4hrs from the u.k if an emergency happens.ok speak soon ,happy easter.our kids are back to school on easter monday,its not a bank holiday here.dave.ps will have a look at that blog.reply back soon.......

Hi

Submitted by hammy11 on Wed, 06/05/2009 - 17:42.

Hi Dave & family how's things going? Well everything is up for sale and we're looking at moving end of May 1st week June, getting quite excited now, not sure if excitement or just feeling a bit sick!!! no I would go with excitement.
So what have you all been up to since I last spoke to you? still enjoying it? any luck with work? sorry here I go again lots of questions. It's very cold, wet & windy here ( no change ey). Just wondering if there is any chance yu could get some phone numbers for me on some rental properties, we've decided to find somewhere prior to coming out rather than coming on a weeks holiday, I think it makes more sense. Hope your all enjoying it still, do you by any chance go down to the Irish bar on the beach in Maspalomas, if at anytime you do please could you leave a message behind the bar for a guy called Gary (has a fab suntan & bald) everyone knows him, could you leave this no 07908 006249 Sarah, Baz & Ki - he'll know who we are, i've got a new mobile now so he only has my old one- would love to hear from him. Anyway hope your all well, hopefully catch up once we've moved out would be nice to put a face to the name. Look forward to hearing from you soon, hope you don't mind me asking if you could get some phone numbers for rentals. Thanks again speak soon Sarah

Moving update

Submitted by hillbill on Wed, 06/05/2009 - 19:06.

Hi Sarah glad your all well.At the moment were considering moving back to the u.k.We really really dont want to but we may not have a choice.At the moment there's nothing available work wise and dont know if and when there will be.We have both handed c.v's out everywhere and they all have the same reply"no because it's so quiet,maybe in june/july"We have been told by a few people that 15th june is when they seem to think it will pick up but who know's with this recession.I really hope it pick's up as were giving it till July and if there's no work we will be going home and not through choice.Sorry to put a downer on it.
If i was you i would make sure you have as much money as you can and learn spanish as well also maybe reconsider your moving date to next June/July because if we could do it again we would of waited till next year hopefully after the recession.Sorry for the bad news but i think you should be prepared.Dave.reply bk soon.if i see an numbers i will let you know.you could try R&A property in san farnando or dream home in Yumbo.RTN also have a property section.If were still here we can meet up and we can help you with any questions you have.

Dave .........

hi life is good here in G.C

Submitted by hillbill on Mon, 06/04/2009 - 09:34.

hi sarah,weather is really good here,its been lovely the past 3 days,blue skies and lots of sun.good news about a possible interview.stacey working this week ,still quiet but earning.hopefully summer time will pick up when the brits come over.i had an interview last week so just waiting to hear so fingers crossed.no regrets at all just need a job now then will be complete.week 6 cant believe how fast its gone,it only feels like 2/3 weeks.you will all love it when you move over its just so different then G.B.the sun being out every day (nearly) makes all the difference.we walked to the carboot behind faro2 and noticed a few places to rent so will have to get you there numbers.got to go the pool now and carry on being a wag!.kids on half term this week and go back on easter monday.its not to bad but come summer time the kids have a 3 month summer holiday.take care and see you soon.reply back.dave.......

Great to hear from you

Submitted by hammy11 on Fri, 10/04/2009 - 10:33.

Hi, weather here well!!!! raining, windy & bit cold, bet that's cheered you up!!. Good news about Stacey, fab what was the interview for? hopefully you have found out by the time I am writing this, I have been reading a new blog that has been posted, it's a bit scary to me, if you haven't read it do have a read, still hasn't put me off though. That would be great if you could get us some numbers for rents,oh and Baz says as long as they have a pool, think he's trying to be a wag now! Glad to hear your all enjoying it, I can't believe the school holidays, oh my goodness, Kieran was quite excited when I mentioned that, Baz did say though this would probably be a good time then to come, mind you 3 months that's quite a long time, well at least they have pools, sun & the beach more than we have here. Great to hear from you, keep in touch. My email is se.ellis@hotmail.co.uk. Happy Easter to you all. See you soon. Reply back Sarah

Hi Sarah

Submitted by Gran Canaria Gu... on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 20:11.

hi Sarah, i also have a family in GC but a much younger family than you. My wife works in a school so we are pretty knowledgeable on school options. The cost of the British school is about 500€ a month not / term and you'll have to pay a 2000€ entrance fee too, it is also only primary up to year 6. There is Colegio Arenas in the south but it is a similar price. I do know of English children in the Spanish system but I would recommend your older child has a few Spanish lessons beforehand so they have some idea of Spanish before they go otherwise they may find it very difficult.

Hope this helps.

hi sarah.weather is much

Submitted by hillbill on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 14:04.

hi sarah.weather is much better than uk,bit cold and windy today.ask away.my wife is working as a beauty therapist in puerto rico but its commission only so if she does no treatments she doesnt get paid.its very quite work wise over here,ive been looking for bar work,driving,gardening anything really just to earn some money.its very busy here in winter but then picks up again may/june.we live in campo international/maspalomas which we found on the internet before coming over,we pay 575euros p/month for 1 bedroom apartment with communial pool,its nice where we are as its not to busy but not to quite.we are 10min walk from holiday world.before you can put the kids in school or work you have to get your N.I.E,RESIDENCIA & PADRON,your n.i.e & rescidencia you can get from the police station in san fernando and it costs about 20 euros each.padron you get from townhall in maspalomas 2 mins from holiday world and theres no cost for that.we do have a number of a translator which i would advise because if you dont speak spanish they will tell you to go away.she charges 40 euros per day.the kids started school last weds,it was hard as we dont speak spanish so it was very intimidating and it felt like we were dumping them some where strange and couldnt understand them,they are settling in slowly but the school is nice and theres some english kids there which help,a couple of the teachers speak english which is a relief.the school is called maspalomas oasis which is only a 10min walk from where we live,its opposite the san farnanado market.we are very glad we moved out here but we can see the credit crunch is affecting tourism but i think come may/june all the english will be over and boost trade.if i was you i would try and find somewhere to live before coming over just in case you dont find anything,you could try www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.com as they had a good write up in the R.T.N which is an english newspaper here.www.roundtownnews.co.uk.moving here is very exciting but very scary too,but least here if your a bit skint you will have the sun on your back.whens the big day?and how old are your kids?hope this helps and reply back.dave.......

How's life in Maspalomas!!

Submitted by hammy11 on Sun, 05/04/2009 - 16:28.

Hi dave, thanks for replying, some really useful information, I see your looking at your wife going into childcare have you heard anything back from anyone yet, i'll try and find out some info for you if that will help. It's very cloudy but warm today in GB, I bet it's beautiful in Maspalomas. We're just sorting out what we are going to do with the house etc and schools, this seems to be the biggest headache!!! So are things not great with the beautician work? mind you it could pick up with coming into there summer time!! So your on week 6 now - how things going, still no regrets? Can't wait for the move, I have been in touch with a company who want to see me when they next recruit in May so that's really positive news. Anyway hope your all ok, reply back Sarah

Hi

Submitted by hammy11 on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 18:29.

Hi Dave, thanks for replying, thought I might of put you off with all the questions. Bet it's not as cold and windy as here, don't tell me it's probably 21 degrees or something like that. We stayed quite near to where you are living, went to Holiday world for some bowling, so how's your wife coping with the travelling to Puerto Rico? I must admit not to sure on the driving, think i'll stick to buses for some time!! I have signed up to the RTN newspaper online,great thing the internet, we brought the RTN back when we came over, funny enough was having a look through it today.
Kieran's 12 so my concerns are that he wouldn't settle that well in a main stream school, when we were in Maspalomas a few people warned us of this, due to him being 12 and if he is not fluent in Spanish he could be left behind, if the kids aren't happy than neither are the parents, so options are International/private school which is around 450 euros a month!! um. It's so nice to speak to someone who has done the move and is living it, feels a bit more reassuring. We're hoping within the next 8 weeks, gotta wait for the cat to be jabbed which takes 6 weeks to get his passport, ideally I would get on a plane and go but need to make sure everything is in place, oh and got some cash behind us first, we can't sell the house due to negative eqaty(good old britain). I would quite agree though at least you have the sun, also everyone is so more relaxed there, it's true we are all so stressed out here it's unbelieveable, I have really noticed it since coming home. Thanks for coming back to me, it sounds fab where you live - was this through an agency? if so is it standard month down, month advanced etc, also what are their fees? Hope you don't mind me asking questions, I actually feel like I know what I need to do with some help from yourself, so much to do that's probably the scary part. That's great about the translator, it's little things like this for me which really helps. Was the property furnished, did you take anything, or was it just pack & go. Good luck with the job hunting, it'll be me & my hubby soon, he is more nervous than me though, I think the school, rent and everything scares him if he can't find work but I think well we're not getting any younger and if we don't do it now we never will, there will be something I am very positive about that. Anyway your probably sick of me waffling now so thanks and let's keep in touch if that's ok. Thanks, speak soon Sarah

hi no problem,any time we

Submitted by hillbill on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 19:46.

hi no problem,any time we can help just email.its actually 22 degrees sorry!the rtn is great just full of usefull info,cars for sale and jobs etc.you can go to the British school of Gran Canaria which is 5 mins up the road by bus/car and i think they charge 500 plus per term or you could go to public school.at Kierans age he would probably be fine hes still at that age where he will soak everything up and speaking spanish within 3 months.stacey gets the bus to puerto rico and it only takes about 25mins and costs 1.20 euro.i think come april work will pick up,hopefully! so by the time u come over there will be plenty of work so you can walk straight into a job.i know in may they were on about revamping playa del ingles beach front worth a few million quid so yr hubby might be fine.the apartment were in now is private and owned by a english guy so we paid 1 months deposit and 1 months rent.agencies will charge 1 month rent,1 month deposit and commission will be the same as 1 months rent.there normally furnished but just check first.we brought 6 boxes of cargo on our plane,mainly toys and personal items,thats it.8 weeks will soon b here,we cant believe its been 5 weeks for us already,its gone so fast because we have been so busy looking for work,sorting school and getting all the paperwork done.trust me once your here and sorted out you will love it im sure.dont forget anytime we can help dont hesitate to email.its nice to help you out.heres my email if you prefer. hillsdriving@hotmail.co.uk dave.......

happy to help

Submitted by hillbill on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 13:01.

hi sarah,we moved to maspalomas 5 weeks today,we have two girls aged 6 & 3.if i can help in anyway reply back.dave..........

Hi

Submitted by hammy11 on Mon, 30/03/2009 - 13:22.

Hi Dave, thanks for replying. So how's life in Maspalomas? warmer than Great Britain i'm sure. It's great to be in touch with someone who has done the move, there's loads of questions i'm dying to ask, hope you don't mind. We've been back from Maspalomas 2 weeks now, it's beautiful.
How was the move?
Have you sorted a school for your little girl? How was it?
Did you find somewhere to live prior to moving, so many people have advised us to book a cheap weeks hol first?
Where about's do you live, is it an expat community etc?
What's it like for work? dare I ask?
Are you glad you've done the move, no regrets, it's such a big step, we're all very excited but also nervous.
thanks again for getting in touch it would be great to keep in touch if ok. Look forward to hearing from you soon