Mark Danby, a British expat who swapped Stockport for the Costa del Sol around 18 months ago, has revealed the three things he misses most about the UK. Despite enjoying the Spanish lifestyle, he admits there are certain home comforts he cannot forget.
Missing British Pubs
First on Mark's list is the quintessential British pub. 'One thing I do really miss, as much as I like the Spanish bars, it's a good old English pub,' he explained. 'Every time I go back, the first thing I want to do is go into a pub and have a pint of beer.' However, there are signs that British pub culture is making its way to Spain, with Wetherspoons recently opening its first venue at Alicante Airport.
Craving Fish and Chips
Despite Spain's renowned culinary scene, Mark admits to pining for traditional fish and chips. 'You can't get good fish and chips here... maybe if you go to Gibraltar, I've had some decent fish and chips, but you can't get fish and chips round here that are decent. Fish and chips, steak pie and chips, stuff like that,' he said.
Family Ties
Naturally, Mark misses his family, though he mentioned that his 29-year-old son is also planning to relocate to the Costa del Sol. It is only on visits home that he realises what he is missing.
Life in Spain
Mark clarified that despite Brexit, relocating to a European country is still possible under specific circumstances. He is on a digital nomad visa, working remotely for UK clients. 'You can work, but you can't work for a Spanish company,' he explained. 'I can do remote work and so can my son. We can be located out here, and we're not taking any Spanish person's job away from them.'
In his latest video, Mark reflected on how people become stuck in routines as they age. He relocated to Spain 18 months ago but recently returned to his hometown for the first time in ages. 'When you have lived in a place for decades, it becomes part of who you are, part of your DNA,' he said.
He noted that the 'big leap of faith' of moving abroad is not for everyone. 'Some people find out it's not for them. They find out that living here is not the same as being on holiday. It's very different in winter than it is in the summer.'
Adapting to Spanish Summers
Mark prefers Spanish winters to the blistering summers. 'It's just too hot to do everything. You've got to turn your life around. I've got a dog, so it's early morning walks, it's walks after sunset. You can't really go out and do anything during the day.' He now understands why Spaniards take siestas and dine late.
Despite embracing the Spanish way of life, Mark admits he has not mastered the language. 'I do make an effort, not as much as I should. But to be honest, you don't really need it on the Costa del Sol, because everybody speaks English.' He noted that bureaucracy can be challenging, but aspects like buying property or sorting car insurance are straightforward.
For now, Mark has no intention of returning to the UK. 'I'm not planning on coming back, but you never know, do you? I mean, you never know what life's going to throw at you, health wise and all the rest of it.'
