Speaking Spanish Really does improve your life.

As many of you know we finally moved out of Nueva Andalucia in March to Nagueles. Mainly because we out grew our apartment and also wanted somewhere more residential.

We´ve been here nearly 7 years now and whilst Summer was always quite good fun with all the kids that came each year and catching up with all the other owners that became our friends and seeing their kids grow up, there were too many negatives, like the fights for sunbeds, being woken up every night because of groups, drunks, parties etc etc.

This summer has been different. SO different and enjoyable that Im happy not going away at all next summer.

We are on a small urbanisation but where there are many children that live here - this makes a huge difference. Its fantastic that you go to the pool and theres nearly always someone to play with.

We are mixing with people that we just wouldnt have met or become friends with in Nueva Andalucia.

We had the most wonderful evening the other night with a family on holiday here from Madrid. My daughter became best friends with their little girl and the older sister treated my daughter like a her own sister. It was just wonderful. We went to their house at 9pm and didnt leave till 3am, with all the kids. For 6 hours our kids just played having such fun whilst we relaxed chatting in a mix of Spanish & English whilst the teenage boys did the barbecue, and what a fab bbq it was. These kids were the most wonderful, caring, mature kids I have ever met.

In nearly 3 months of summer we havent been to Puerto Banus in the Evening as a family once. Normally we are out, walking around the tents, but because we are enjoying where we live so much, we dont have the need to go out so much anymore.

I have learnt that being able to speak Spanish really does make a huge difference to your life. Its lovely seeing how other cultures do things and lovely when actually you realise we are all the same - mainly just wanting the best for our kids.

Had I not have been able to speak Spanish and communicate we would have missed out on some fantastic nights out this summer.

Ive also learnt that some English People can come across rude to the Spanish - this is mainly when the English people speak NO Spanish at all, some dont want to get eye contact because they dont want to engage in conversation because they cant speak a word of Spanish.

But trust me, just an Hola, Buenas Dias can go a very long way.