never was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
And a further update.
Just spoke to xw#1. She is contemplating buying a house in France, would be a bit complicated, etc. But - if I was to rent it from her for the half-year she'd need to be in the UK working, win all round, I think. Maybe a solution is in sight.
never was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
'Go for it; then I a point of contact for a visit. BTW, I'm a Grundy, or will be again in about a month when my divorce is final and I take back my maiden name. My grandfather was from Bristol.'
My user name is taken from the grumpy old bugger in 'The Archers', the BBC world's longest running soap opera.
Congrats on your divorce. I've had two, and they were life-changing in a good way.
never was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
'Did you say cheap cost of living?'
Well, in my limited experience, yes.
Apartment rent about €500 pcm, diesel €1.13 litre, property tax c. €100 pa, no income tax, cigs €2/20, food prices very reasonable, beer in a top-class hotel €3/500ml, etc. The average yearly salary is about €12,000 pa. So, yes I would say that the cost of living is cheap compared to UK, US, and most of Europe.
It's all subjective, of course, but superb steaks and several beers for two were €30. My morning cafe charged €2 for a double espresso and (a one-off treat) €4 for a very large cognac.
In the capital (full of designer shops) I bought two tee shirts and two polo shirts for €20.
never was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
'Would you consider Cyprus again?'
No. It is a bankrupt, corrupt, third world country. I was lucky not to buy property there and get stuck (as so many are).
When I came back for visits home, people could not understand why a life of sun, sea, cold beer, etc., could pall - but it does. It turns into 'nothing else to do but to walk on the beach, then go to a bar, drink beer I really don't want and speak to fellow ex-pats I'd rather avoid.'
And. of course, you're living on an island. Only way on and off is by air - subject to air fares and a 20kg limit. No more of that for me, thanks.
get some popcorn, this might be entertaining.. .
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/08/22/this-should-go-well-westboro-baptist-church-says-its-going-to-iraq-to-protest-isis/.
It's an interesting point. If the Westboro loonies - or any other 'true believers' - really believed what they preached then of course they would go and take on muslim heretics head-on. The god in which they believe would protect them and prevail. So why aren't all the 'true believers' (the first white southern baptists etc., snake handlers, etc.) joining them?
Back to the Crusades, anybody?
Just goes to show, I suppose.
or is it just me (again)?.
getting 'server not found' etc.
messages..
Or is it just me (again)?
Getting 'server not found' etc. messages.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/trial-halted-after-man-accused-7659735.
Can I make a guess that this is one 'Andre' experience that won't make it into the mags?
never was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
Just back from a 10 day trip to Andorra to visit a friend. A superb country with much to commeend it. Stunning scenery, healthy living and a cheap cost of living.
Very tempted.
i like so many americans left my parent's house as soon as i could (age 19).
i would see them maybe one or two times a year for the next ten years.
when i hit thirty and got married it was even less frequent.
Age is a state of mind, I think - or rather, how you react to it. Yes, there are physical effects but I know young people who already act old and older people who are mentally young.
I think about this sort of stuff about twice a year - New Year and my birthday. I just turned 59, am single and fairly fit and healthy. In a few hours I'm off for a 'spur of the moment' trip. I've booked the car on a ferry to France and I will call and see a friend in Andorra. Other than that the trip is unplanned - I may be away for a week or a month, driving through France and probably Spain.
There are always new places to visit, new people to meet, new experiences to - well, experience.
There will come a time, probably, when this won't be possible but for now I want to enjoy as much as I can. Life is not a rehearsal and you only get one shot at it.
just had an interesting (?
) visit.. 1.30pm, i was outside the front of my house on a small housing estate doing man-stuff on the car.
three young guys (maybe 16-18 or so) wearing long-sleeved shirts approached.
In a way, I was disappointed not to have the chance to chat to them and maybe push some innocent but hopefully thought-provoking questions their way.
But:
1. I know that trying to discuss religion with the religious can be like trying to push a worm uphill
2. They would not have accepted anything I said
3. In a group of three, none would dare to show any interest in anything I had to say
4. Being harsh, they are not my problem.
I was thinking afterwards that very recent research shows that people in their age group are at their peak of techno-skills. I would be very surprised if they are not active on the internet (and they won't stick to the official one) and perhaps more importantly on the social networking sites. They don't need someone like me to raise doubts - I would guess that they already have them and just need an opportunity for further research and discussion and to express them.
