Find Us On… … …
Want to be on UK television?
Published June 30, 2011 | 
Do you want to be featured on UK telly? Then read on… … …
Hello there,
I am a researcher from a television company in the Uk called Firecracker Films. We are looking for Expats and Brits Abroad for a documentary series all about parties. If you know anyone having a lavish or unusual party please get in touch.
Thanks
Tiannah
Are you an Expat Living in Lanzarote?
Have you got something to celebrate this year?
Are you planning a lavish or unusual party?
Whether it’s a landmark birthday, engagement, prom, christening, children’s party, corporate event or any excuse for a knees-up.
Firecracker Films, the makers of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings want to follow you in the run up to the big day and join in the celebrations for a new series for Watch (UKTV.
All parties must be taking place before 1st September 2011.
To take part please send your name, contact tel and a short paragraph with the details of your party to
parties@firecrackerfilms.com or call 020 7349 3480.
Another project from Alan…
Published May 14, 2011 | 
Many people who read this site regularly will likely be aware of the walk I did from Orzola to Playa Blanca in February. From which I’m glad to say we managed to raise a total of £1305.67 (including gift aid) via the Just Giving website, which has 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!
Well, the first question I got asked after completing that, was “What next?” At the time I hadn’t even thought about what next, I wasn’t even sure there would be a next time as it was just something I had wanted to do for my own reasons. Also at the 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”. It seems he was right. Raising the money for these most worthy causes was probably one of the most satisfying things I have ever done.
So, I have a new plan. I’m not saying what exactly I’m doing (probably about the same time next year) for a number of reasons – but with traditional Gandy spirit I have to top what I did last time…
As of last Monday I’m back in training! Suffice it is to say that this is going to be a bit more physically demanding. I felt that this time I need some more hands on guidance so have engaged the help of Mitch who is probably the best known personal trainer on Lanzarote to set 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!
I’ll be dropping by with updates on my training, and will say what I’m doing later in the year…. Watch this space!
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.
Missing Dog in Puerto del Carmen – April 2011
Published April 25, 2011 | We received the following email last night – we hope that someone can help reunite Kiara with her owner. Please share this link on your Facebook walls, Twitter feeds, Lanzarote forums, and amongst your friends.
I am emailing to ask for your help in order to find our lost dog Kiara.
Kiara is a small mixed breed dog- half chuhuahua and half terrier. She is largely brown with some white patches. She was lost in Puerto del Carmen (Calle Rociega) at 9.30pm on the 20th of April. She simply vanished out of the garden without so much as a bark.
We are desperate to find her and would appreciate your assistance in the matter. I am attaching a poster we have made and will be distributing around PDC. We would be very grateful if you could include this poster on your website or atleast publish this information online. She is well known in PDC so we are hoping to get her back ASAP.
If you have any question or need ot get hold of us at all please call 606634684 or email me on deepti.aswani@cantab.net.
Thank you kindly for your help.
Regards
Deepti Aswani
I took the wrong dog to the vet!
Published April 14, 2011 | 
I’ve been having a bit of fun with that phrase on my status updates on Facebook the last couple of days with this story. And, I think with April 1st having already passed, some people actually think I did take the wrong dog from the reactions. Here’s the truth of the matter. It really isn’t that dramatic – and contrary to popular opinion I am really not that dumb! 
Yesterday: “I’ve just taken the wrong dog to the vets…. :/”
Today: Just returned from the vets after taking the right dog today!
Followed by: Of course it being the right time next week, the wrong dog will become an additional right one…!
There is a piece of useful information in this I promise…
Over a recent conversation we decided to bring the dogs up to date with their pet passports. Before tongues start wagging we’re not going anywhere, we don’t owe anyone a suitcase full of money, and we are not international drug dealers on the run! . The thinking being that nobody can ever know what cards fate can deal – and there is no way we’d want to have the boys in quarantine for 6 months should some family crisis or other event force (and we would have to be forced!) to return to the UK for any extended period of time.
So, yesterday I walked down to our vet Yaira (lovely lady at Bari on Calle El correillo in Playa Blanca). Thinking all was in order with current vaccinations I arrived to find out that having taken Guido she could not take his blood test. It turns out that the test can not be taken withing thirty days of the last rabies jab. Hence – Guido was the wrong dog to take having had his last 26 days ago (I hadn’t, as some thought, fallen victim to a case of mistaken identity). Had I taken Pepper yesterday – he would have been the right dog to take as his last jab was in January. I took him today – the right dog – and Guido then becomes a right dog also as of Monday. Clear? As mud I suspect.
So the simple moral of the story is – if you’ve got a dog whilst on the island we suggest getting the blood test up to date, should anything happen where you need to go home in a crisis. If you genuinely care about your dogs (and cats) keep their pet passport water tight – don’t run the risk of adding to the already way to large number of abandoned dogs and cats on the island, or heaven forbid having to leave your best friend behind!
And, don’t take the dog to the vets for a blood test within a month of their last rabies vaccination.
Alan
I can’t speak highly enough of Yaira, and should you need some professional advice on this or any other pet related issue rather than my ramblings you can email her at veterad@hotmail.com.
She is Spanish but speaks a little English too
Full information on taking your pets from Spain to the UK (or vice versa) are available on the DEFRA website.
Cruise Ships Coming to Playa Blanca Lanzarote from Nov 2011
Published April 8, 2011 | We have heard some excellent news this evening. From November 2011 to April 2012… TUI are sending cruise ships to Lanzarote. They will be heading to Marina Rubicon in Playa Blanca, as opposed to the usual Puerto Naos in Arrecife.
This is excellent news for the resort, and for the Island as a whole. The agreement was signed in my hometown of Portsmouth this week, and forms part of an initiative that also includes the Canary Islands being promoted on the sides and sails of Sunsail yachts too.
Spanish Tests for New Residents of The Canary Islands
Published April 1, 2011 | 
As part of efforts to preserve the Spanish language, and particularly to stem the dilution of the language within the Canaries… there is a new procedure that will be rolled out from January 1st 2012. This new process will take the form of a written test to assess the general understanding of the Spanish language. The exact details are to be finalised, but our contact at the Cabildo informs us that it will most likely take the form of a 50 question test of everyday phrases in Spanish, with multiple choice answer selections. Questions will include phrases that you would use to find your way around a hospital, weights and measures, numbers, days of the week, correct phraseology when handling money, and a basic element of conversational Spanish. You will need to gain a pass of at least 80% in order to receive your Residencia.
Over the past couple of years, the Cabildos (Canary Island governmental bodies) have been offering free Spanish lessons to new residents as part of their desire to make life so much easier for all of us to integrate into our new homes as seamlessly as possible.Unfortunately, these free classes have not been as popular as the government would have hoped. This being said, the free classes will continue, and they would like to encourage all of us to avail ourselves of this fantastic opportunity. You can find out more about these classes by visiting your local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall). They start around September / October each year and come in three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced.
The new rules only apply to people applying for the relatively new paper style “Certificado de Extranjeros” or “Residencia” as it is more commonly known amongst the British and Irish.
The following people are exempt:
- Persons living in the Canary Islands who are already registered under the Green Paper scheme of “Residencia” (Persons who currently hold the old credit card sized Residencia, are not exempt… and will be required to sit the test when their cards run out),
- Persons who are applying only for a NIE number
- Persons spending less than 183 days per year in Spain
There is a department being set up as we speak that will help to coach people through the new process, including some classes and support should you need it. The support will of course be offered in the language of your originating country language, in order to conform to EU anti-discrimination laws. This will be overseen and run by the Cabildo, but will be physically based inside the Police Stations, where you currently apply for your certificado de extranjero. This will be rolled out across the Canary Islands.
So… you have no time to lose. Make sure that you learn as much Spanish as you possibly can, in order to be ready when the time comes.
(This post was an April Fool’s Joke from 2011)
Fantastic views of Lanzarote!
Published February 15, 2011 | One of my favourite people in Lanzarote is our good friend, Paul “Vin Diesel” Boden. Paul is the owner of www.360turismo.com and today he has launched some fantastic 360 views from around Lanzarote. Continue reading
Looking for Lilly Bent
Published February 10, 2011 | We had a lovely email this week from a lady who is seeking her cousin Lilly Bent who she believes may well be living in Lanzarote.
Here are a few details in case anyone knows of her.
The lady I am speaking to is called Margaret, who now lives in Canada. She says
We were just young girls the last time we met, I am now 79, she (Lilly) will be 80 – 81. Her maiden name was Lilly Hodson, Her father James [ Jimmy} & my Father Ellis Hodson were Brothers.
I had never heard of Lanzarote until a couple of days ago. I had a phone call from another cousin in the UK She gave me the info.
Lilly grew up in Leigh Lancashire UK Her Father was a Green Grocer.
If anyone know Lilly… or if indeed if Lilly reads this herself, then please contact me via elle@gandy-draper.com or on +34 664 085 499 and I will put you in touch with Margaret.
Thank you!
Arabella’s A Winner!!
Published February 8, 2011 | Our regular readers will know that we recently shared the relocation story of Angela Poxon, whose family are very good friends of ours.
We have always commented on how beautiful their daughter, Arabella Louise is… and so now we are pleased to bring you some wonderful news – Angela and David’s daughter Arabella-Louise who was born on Lanzarote in 2004 has today been announced as the winner of a UK national modelling competition. Isn’t that fantastic?!
Arabella is now the official 2011 face of Stunning Photography (Oxfordshire’s Top Rated Photographers of 2010) and will be flying back again soon for the winner’s shoot!
Arabella also won a Top of The Tots competition in London in 2008 and has worked for a local Canary Islands agency MooToo when they have shot catalogues and campaigns on our very own island of Lanzarote.
Congratulations Arabella – it’s official – you really are Lanzarote’s Next Top Model!
Enjoy the photos of Arabella below
Funerals in Lanzarote
Published January 27, 2011 | A sad subject I know, but the question “what to do if someone dies in Lanzarote” is one that we should all be prepared for.
If somebody dies in Lanzarote, then this must be registered here straight away. If this is on a holiday, then contact your Tour Operator direct, as they should take care of all the first lot of arrangements for you. They should have staff that speak the lingo and can contact the local police and / or the consulate. They cannot however, help beyond the preliminaries… and so it is important that you speak to the experts (links below)
If the person is in a hospital, the staff there can help advise you… but sometimes the language barrier can be daunting, and in upsetting circumstances such as these… then you want things to be a stressfree as possible. Bear in mind that the hospital will expect you to contact a funeral director almost immediately.
If the death is a sudden one, you must contact the local Hospital immediately. If it is under suspicious circumstances, then you must contact the Police straight away.
If you wish to have your loved one flown back to the UK and Ireland, then you must contact the Consulate immediately.
We highly recommend using the services of Lanzarote Funeral Care, as they have extremely strong links with the Consulate, the Police, and other official organisations… and can help you immensely. They can organise memorial services, cremations, burial, the contact of your friends and family, and much more. For peace of mind, we highly advise you to contact them as soon as possible in these sad circumstances.
For flowers, we will always recommend using the lovely Glynis from Flowers by Serenity.
Our thoughts will always be with you and your loved ones at such sad times.
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