BUYING PROPERTY IN SPAIN - Easy peasy????

Whilst browsing through the Internet, for properties for a friend, who is thinking of investing in a property in Spain but lives in the UK, I come across the perfect property. The property in question looked amazing value for money although did require a bit of updating but nothing major.

We roughly knew where the property was so off we went, to have a look. As a bank re-possession, it was obviously empty, the gate was open and on closer inspection it was minus its doors and windows! Feeling a bit criminal like, we threw caution to the wind, traipsed through the jungle of a garden and had a good look around. Every light switch, bit of wiring, everything really had been robbed and there was a gaping hole in the roof where the property had been entered. Undeterred though we thought it was worth an offer.

On the website it gave you a box to tick if you wanted to put an offer in. It also asked if you'd viewed the property and then gave you a box for the offer. First though there was a trip to the bank to check the mortgage situation. All good, so far. We waited and waited for a response on the offer - nothing.

We contacted the bank, who contacted the agents representing the bank and were told the offer wouldn't be put  in until we'd viewed the property with the agent. No problem, we contacted the agent who promised to call us back with an appointment. Two days later, still nothing. Phoned again and were told the person we needed to speak to was on holiday. Another four days pass and still no contact. Another call to the agent and we were given the contacts phone number. We phone the contact, Natalia, no reply. Repeat 6 more times, give up! Do they actually want to sell houses????

Natalia finally calls us and tells us she hasn't got her diary and she will call the next day. Next day, nothing! Eight more attempts to get Natalia to answer her phone and we finally get a message from her telling us to contact Pablo. Contact Pablo, who answers after call number three and make arrangement to meet him the next day at 5.30! Yaaaaay!!!

Next day at 5.30, we all await eagerly for Pablo to arrive at the property. No show. We call Pablo, no answer, we call Natalia no answer! We continue ringing them both until Natalia finally answers and tells us she will contact Pablo. Finally we call Pablo and he answers!!!! He denies ever making the appointment but promises to meet us in the morning. Exasperated we head home for a much needed wine. Hard hard can it be to put an offer in on a bloody house?

Two bloody weeks, yes two weeks it takes to put an offer in on a house! Did have to laugh though that  when Pablo finally shows, he optimistically arrives with a key for the now existent front door.

Pablo hadn't realised how bad the house had got and thought the offer was a good one, so apparently the offer is now in! Watch this space .......

Victoria Station Parcent

I spent many years being a 'Corporate Wife' which involved endless meals out at usually, top end restaurants. I always found it very tedious not to mention pretentious and can honestly say I never once enjoyed a meal out. I'm not sure if I didn't enjoy meals out because I wasn't interested in eating (at the time) or if it was because neuvelle cuisine just didn't float my boat.

Since moving to Spain I haven't really ventured out in the 'dining experience' world, mainly because being a vegetarian and the Spanish thinking, tuna is a vegetable, has put me off, so my experiences have mainly been confined to Indian cuisine and the odd Italian.

I suggested a meal out to my parents last week and Daddio asked if we could try Victoria Station in Parcent as Mummios friends had recommended it so I booked it and on Saturday we went.

Rich wasn't keen on going as I told him it was a pub. It was a pub but only one side of it. We went to the restaurant side and sadly were the only customers that night. I cannot believe that the place isn't heaving. What a treat we had!

The menu was vast with something for everybody! We are a hard family to cater for with me being vegetarian, Rich only liking chicken and cod and Mummio a tough cookie to please.

First came the soup, beautiful homemade vegetable soup served in hot bowls with hot crusty rolls. This was accompanied with a little dish of various spreads for the bread. There were olives, butter, ali oli and tomato spread.

The starters came next. Mine was deep fried brie with red current jelly, served with a decorative but edible salad and decorated with a  flower shaped vegetable. The portion was huge and did not disappoint. I didn't eat it all though as I knew I had a few dishes to get through! Rich, Mummio & Daddio all had garlic mushrooms, served in a huge dish. Reports on this were also good!

Mixed sorbet then came out which confused Rich has he thought it was dessert!!! lol

Mains for me was Mushroom stroganoff, although there was a choice of two other vegetarian dishes which amazed me! Served with rice & veg, this was yummy. Rich had Cod and chips, served on a sheet of newspaper (on top of the plate) with hand cut chips & mushy peas. The cod was the size of a whale and was thick and succulent. Mummio had the most enormous steak and kidney pie and Daddio Ribs.

For desert we were all too full but were tempted by a platter of bite sized selection of desserts and coffee.

I have never been out with my family where all of us have enjoyed a meal so much, it was beyond amazing!

I want to give a big shout out to this amazing place and talented chef. More people need to visit and experience this food. Top notch!