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It’s hardly a secret…
Published December 20, 2011 | 
Billy with his new 'brothers'!
…that it was Elle and I took on the recently abandoned Boxer puppy who, to all intents and purposes, was left to die on a terrace without proper water or food. We’ve been told that, had a friend of ours not found him when he did, little ‘Billy’ as he is now known would have been dead by the end of the weekend. It was pure chance that our friend turned up at the house when he did on the Friday, as he hadn’t originally planned to visit the house until Monday.
Well, here’s an update to the story!
We read with interest Jane Burke’s article – inspired in part by Billy’s story – in the December issue of the Gazette (page 32), in which she passionately appealed to Lanzarote to ‘name and shame’ those on the island who mistreat animals in such a way. Jane cited some other horrific atrocities in the article too, which really do make the blood of any reasonable human being boil. She also pointed out that, despite the urban mythology, many expats are as guilty as the locals. We’ve all seen them come and go, they arrive with their rose tinted glasses, dash off down to SARA or the nearest pet shop and adopt a dog or cat – only to realize a few months on they can’t make it on this island so many of us are proud to call home. The lucky animals will get re-homed, the not so lucky ones wind up at Sara, and the downright unfortunate ones like OUR little ‘Billy’ just get dumped.
We hadn’t planned to do this, but perhaps Jane has a point. We were offended today to be pointed at this… Is this ‘person’ coming back? Maybe she is, maybe it’s all talk. But you know what, just in case, we thought we’d get the ball rolling in light of Jane’s comments. We’ve decided to go public in the hope that if we do this irresponsible and heartless individual is prevented from taking on another dog or cat on Lanzarote.
Remember, as the old saying goes “A dog is for life not just for Christmas”!
Please, please – to anyone moving here, think long and hard and make sure you know what you are doing when you take on a pet. Would you do this to kids?! Personally I’d neuter anyone who can treat an animal in such a way as they can’t possibly be trusted with children either.
NVQ qualifications available throughout Spain and the Canary Islands
Published December 1, 2011 | We’ve just completed a website for a service that I genuinely believe has the potential to be a great benefit to many in Lanzarote, and throughout Spain!
Shirley Fletcher who until recently was living on the island, and has now moved to the Peninsula has set up Fletcher Europe, an extension of her UK business Fletcher Consultancy, a market leading training and development company (who deliver over 2500 NVQs each year). Through Fletcher Europe Shirley is bringing UK NVQ qualifications to Spain.
For those not familiar with NVQs, they are a work based qualification which are assessed on proven competences and observations of performance in the workplace. For companies, NVQs have been proven to improve productivity and staff retention, and for individuals the NVQ qualification will open up new opportunities.
Okay, we should all speak fluent Spanish – but many of us don’t. And, due to this, education and training opportunities are limited for our kids post school without the ability to speak Spanish fluently – the introduction of the NVQ will now allow them to further their education whilst here. Additionally, should they have to return home for any reason, they will have obtained a UK recognized qualification.
Fletcher Eaurope are offering NVQ qualifications in;
- Administration
- Contact Centre
- Customer Service
- Hospitality
- Learning and Development
- Management
- Sales
We think this is a fantastic idea and a great step forward, and we wish Shirley every success!
Feel like I’m getting somewhere…
Published October 30, 2011 | As part of getting ready for the walk of all seven of the Canary Islands next spring I’ve been working with Mitch Mitchell on getting my fitness levels up. After a recent session I felt like I’d taken a beating when the next day came along! But last week, the effort seemed all worthwhile when I bumped into a friend in Hiper-Dino who said “You’re looking fit”. (I’m sure he meant ‘fitter’, he was being polite by over stating! 
).
Coming from someone who does actually know what they are talking about, I was rather pleased to hear that the efforts I am making (with much help and gentle encouragement from Mitch) may have made a visible difference, even so early on in the process.
I can’t recommend Mitch highly enough – so, for your information: If you live on the island and have aspirations of improving your fitness with Christmas coming up, it might be worth having a look at the Winter Wonder Workout program he’s recently launched.
Self Storage in Playa Blanca
Published September 30, 2011 | 
Our friends Dave and Ange have recently launched a secure self-storage facility at their MVP Pool and Spa warehouse in Playa Blanca.
Options range from a 1 cubic metre boxes up to 27.5 cubic metre lock-ups. Storage is in a secure warehouse and there is unlimited free access during MVP office hours.
Their service is reasonably priced and ideal for local businesses and for personal belongings. Of particular interest to those of you reading this site who are moving to Lanzarote, the service enables you to send your personal effects in advance knowing they will be safe and secure until your arrival. MVP can also arrange delivery to your new home when you get here. It also opens up another option for anyone returning the UK.
A 1 cubic metre box is 20€ a month.
A small lock up of approximately 9 cubic metres is:
1 week or part thereof 45€
1 month or part thereof 85€
3 months plus 75€
6 months plus 65€
Large lock up of approximately 27.5 cubic metres:
1 week or part thereof 50€
1 month or part thereof 125€
3 months plus 115€
6 months plus 95€
Like everything else Dave and Ange do – we are sure they’ll be successful with the new venture!
Siete Islas
Published September 24, 2011 | 
Many people who read this blog on a regular basis will know that I walked from the north to the south of the island last year, and I’m pleased to say raised a little bit of money for a couple of worthy charities. I’m now planning on doing something similar in spring of next year.
It’s a little more ambitious. Around March or April – exact date to be confirmed – I’m going to walk up, down, or across the ‘Siete Islas’, the seven main islands that make up the Canary Islands. That’s, in order, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, la Gomera, El Hierro and finally la Palma, the obvious finish point because of the airport.
If you’d like to follow the build up and the walk when it happens we’ll be posting some brief updates on here but most of the information about the charites, and the walk will be being posted on my blog – www.alangandy.com. You’ll also be able to keep up with the news on Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you to everyone who supported me earlier this year, wish me luck – I’m probably going to need it!
…and a special thank you to David White of Axia FX who is very kindly funding my travel and expenses for the expedition, and also to personal trainer Mitch Mitchell for his guidance and advice.
Buying pet products online
Published September 19, 2011 | Living in Lanzarote we’ve found that there isn’t that much choice when it comes to buying the dogs. And pet products are damned expensive!
We’re planning a trip away soon and want to take the dogs with us. So I’ve been looking around for a proper dog guard – I really don’t want to risk the fines! At times like this, so many of us ex-pats gravitate to ebay and Amazon back in the UK. But, as I’m always spouting on about using local businesses I thought I’d have a look at what online pet stores there might be on the peninsula. My thinking being that it would be cheaper on postage as well as being more convenient that buying from the UK. I am glad I did – I found TiendAnimal.es. Good prices, great selection and they deliver to the Lanzarote as well as the other Canary Islands – they also refund the appropriate taxes automatically, something few UK site seem capable of. Continue reading
Puppy looking for a home!
Published September 13, 2011 | 
This is ‘Dolly’, who along with her four siblings was found left in a bin recently – and she is looking for a home. I’ll refrain from expletives, but really, what kind of monster can do that to other creatures. It’s disgusting, no, disgusting doesn’t go far enough!
Sadly, one puppy has died as a result of their ordeal – but the other three have found homes already. Best guess is that the litter are Staffy, Boxer crosses, and we are told they are extremely well natured.
Please, don’t just go and and buy dogs (or cats) on this island – there are far to many, just like these cute little guys and girls looking for a home already. If you’d like to meet Dolly with a view to adopting her, please drop us an email and we will pass on the appropriate contact number!
Off again….
Published September 5, 2011 | 
Those of you who read this site regularly may be aware of the walk I did from Orzola to Playa Blanca in February. I was thrilled to have managed to raise a total of £1305.67 (including gift aid) via the Just Giving website, which has since been distributed to Niños del Tercer Mundo and the Rose Road Centre and is being put to good use in support of their great works!
The first question I got asked after finishing that, was what next? At the time I hadn’t even thought about it, I wasn’t even sure there would be a next time as it was just something I had wanted to do, and if I could raise a few quid for charity, even better. Also around that time I got an email from our friend Geoff Holt who, to paraphrase, said to me “I bet you’ve got the bug now haven’t you”? With the benefit of hindsight it seems he was right. Raising the money for these extremely worthy causes was probably one of the most satisfying things I have ever done.
I have a new plan. I’m not saying what I’m doing just yet – but suffice it is to say I have to top what I did last time… Watch this space later this month!
This is going to be a lot more more physically demanding. I felt that this time I need some more hands on guidance so have Mitch to help me prepare: Mitch is probably the best known personal trainer on Lanzarote and is setting me off on the right track.
Last time I prepared by getting into the gym and doing a bit of cycling, some weights and of course some walking, I know that for this one that’s not enough – I need some proper targets, I’ll need pushing, and some expert advice and encouragement. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mitch is the man for the job. He’s also a genuinely nice guy!
Alan.
The just giving page is still open – and will be revised soon. If you’d like to donate to the charities I sponsor please click on the banner below. If you’d like to find out more about Mitch and the services he offers click here to visit his website.
Allan Day on the mend!
Published August 18, 2011 | 
As certainly everyone in Playa Blanca and many around the island know, in the early hours of the 3rd of August Allan had a terrible accident and fell 6 metres from a balcony. Having miraculously survived the initial fall he spent the next week in a coma. It was seriously touch and go. Thankfully when Allan came round the lights were on – it might have been so different.
Despite multiple broken bones, fractured skull, and a punctured lung – within a couple of days he was laughing and joking with Elaine, his dad and a number of the local residents who have been over to Gran Canaria to see him. All in all, he’s making the most incredible recovery.
Obviously it’s going to take a lot longer for the physical damage to heal – so there’s a long way to go. Hence my feeling it was time to write this (with Elaine’s permission). They’re one of the best loved couples in Playa Blanca – who by coincidence moved out here the very same month we did. The whole town, and many friends from back home, have been right behind them all the way (Facebook must have been working overtime). Hopefully that’s going to continue throughout the process of Allan getting back up to full health – they’re going to need us all maybe even more in the coming months.
Here’s a couple of ways you can help right now if you wish;
There’s a collection being made at Wax Bar in CC Papagayo to help with expenses
You could download Allan’s album – it’s only $6.99 (and actually very good!).
The man himself would never miss a marketing opportunity like this, so I’m sure he won’t disapprove of my plugging it – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
We wish 2L’s and Elaine well and look forward to seeing them return home very soon.
Regular payments from the UK
Published August 17, 2011 | A few days ago I was talking with David White the MD of AxiaFX, one of the currency exchange companies we use from time to time (David has done me an enormous favour recently – more on that to come in another post soon).
Without going into our own circumstances in any detail, apart from putting the economies of Europe to rights, we were discussing generally the best way for expats to move money regularly from the UK.
One of the few BIG mistakes we made when we moved to the island was not to properly research currency exchange, and doing it through the high street banks cost us dearly. We’ve learned since though.
As well as those big payments these companies can also organise for regular payments to be automatically transferred, free of bank charges, and at better rates. So if you’ve got a mortgage on a property here paid from your UK accounts, or perhaps a pension you regularly transfer, over a period of time the savings must be huge! I asked David for some figures to illustrate this point. Here’s the example he gave;
|
Amount |
Exchange Rate |
Fee |
Total |
|
| Axia FX |
€ 1,200 |
1.14 |
£0.00 |
£1,052.63 |
| UK High Street Bank |
€ 1,200 |
1.09 |
£25.00 |
£1,125.92 |
That’s one hell of a lot of money over the lifetime of a mortgage or years of pension payments being transferred!
It’s frankly just insane not to do it through a currency exchange company – no bank charges, better rates – it’s as simple as that. It is a proverbial ‘no brainer’.
If you would like a currency exchange quote or have any questions the form below goes directly to David’s email address at AxiaFX.
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