Next on the list of things I like about Spain – the national healthcare system. Our healthcare is the same as in the UK, free at the point of delivery. We pay 10% of our prescription charges, which is very little. I can go online on an evening and book an appointment with out GP for the next day or the day after. Our own lovely GP, Laura, is currently on maternity leave and the locum is a wonderful man called Jesus. Yep, we have Jesus looking after us very well!
Two years ago Peter became very ill, following a routing colonoscopy where, while removing a couple of little polyps his intestine was perforated – it’s just one of those things that can happen, about one in a thousand cases., just unlucky, We didn’t know about the damage until the next morning when he was in considerable pain, and looked dreadful. I got him to hospital by ambulance, where the surgeon told me they might not be able to save him. Absolutely the loneliest time of my life, sitting till after midnight in the family waiting room, on my own, desperately hoping he wouldn’t die.. No friends were able to come as we were in lockdown due to the covid regulations.
He ended up with an ileostomy, which he hated. Changing those bags every day was a bit of a challenge – we learned to do it before breakfast which not only got it over with but reduced the risk of, err, involuntary splashes! Happily he was able to have a reversal operation a few months later and now just has a couple of very impressive abdominal scars to show for it. The medical staff at the hospital were fantastic, and in our health centre all the nurses loved him and all wanted to see him every time he needed his dressings changed.. It tells you a lot about the calibre of the man that he is so well thought of.
I knew he was on the mend after the 2nd surgery when he whatsapped me a photo one night….
To explain, and very handy information to pass on…the most important things I brought him when he was in hospital were his phone and charger, plenty of internet allowance on the phone as there was none in the hospital, an extension lead, a decent sized tabletop fan as it’s so hot in hospitals, and…the Claw. Invaluable for relieving itches when it hurts so much to move in any direction! So if you or anyone you know is having a hospital stay remember what to bring them!
Next on the list is the cost of living. Everything may well be costing all of us more now but your money still goes a lot further in Spain than in the UK. For example, diesel is currently costing us €1.36 per litre, which is around £1.19 sterling, and the cost is still falling. Fruit and vegetables are inexpensive and plentiful in the local markets, and eating out is ridiculously cheap. Also energy prices are still coming down – we have a very big house, and our last electricity bill was €71 for the month, and that included some use of aircon to heat our bedroom.
Given the huge range of plentiful and affordable vegetables I tried getting into healthy green veggie smoothies – disgusting! It took about 6 swallows to keep every mouthful down. See that smile? It’s not a smile, it’s a grimace, I’m trying not to be sick… Veggies might be cheap but as smoothies they are not welcome!
My life in Spain 
Yes please, I would love to read more of your life in Spain.
Email
valbalesinspain@gmail.com
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