Blog #Wikipedia

The last four weeks have been incredibly busy for us, with lots going on. It all started with the death of a Pope, continued with a massive power cut in Spain and Portugal, May Day, my dad's birthday, the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the naming of the new pope, a confirmation in Germany and ended on my 75th birthday. Let's take a look at what's been going on .....

It's just been the 101 again. The 2025 edition was the 25th anniversary of this important event in the Ronda calendar. Catering for MTB cyclists, runners, walkers, as well as a shorter junior event. The 101 has a national and international profile. Participants come from all over Spain, as well as from abroad - 10 foreign countries in 2025. The 101 is organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion in Ronda.

The missus and I have just enjoyed a week's holiday in the south of France. I'm a keen Francophile yet, because of circumstances, I haven't been to the land of Asterix the Gaul for some 15 years. I am loving it. There are positives and negatives about wherever you go, but the negatives haven't spoilt it at all for me so far. Here's the story.

"How Green Was My Valley" is a novel by Richard Llewellyn about a Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. It was turned into a Hollywood film, two BBC TV series, a Broadway musical and a theatre play. I was struck the other day by how green my valley was. But we've had a load of rain. I live in the Valle de Fuente de la Higuera just outside Ronda (Malaga). I've never seen it so green at the start of Spring. And I've lived round here for over 16 years. Here's the story.

Since the UK formally left the European Union on January 1st, 2020 - commonly known as BREXIT - it has become a lot harder to become a Spanish resident. New rules apply, as they do for other non-EU members. Read on to find out the situation as of April 1st 2025.

The start of the new Tax Year in the UK is always on 6 April and runs until 5 April of the following year. So why I am I posting about this on Eye on Spain? Well, because there are large numbers of British people living here and even more who own property which they visit for up to 90 days a year (since Brexit) and they may/will have tax liabilities in the home country. To find out about the changes, please read on.

I grew up in a rural area in North Devon (England) where I lived in three different houses between the ages of nought and 14. I remember that my Dad, from rural South Wales, always had either a garden or a big allotment. Here's my story of how I went from being a novice English gardener to an apprentice Spanish jardinero, despite the challenges: hot sun; ice cold winters; heavy rainfall; pests; exhaustion; poor quality soil.

Spring has arrived in southern Spain at last, albeit a bit later than normal. Or has it? At the spring equinox days and nights are each approximately twelve hours long, with day-time length increasing and night-time length decreasing as the season moves forward to the summer solstice. The weather had improved - the rain had stopped and the sun was out - so it was time to start planting.

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. ​This important day is celebrated throughout the world, on Saturday 8 March. Read more:

Local council mayors can earn good money these days. Previously, being mayor was a voluntary role and an honour. Whether they were effective is another matter. Surely, it’s right that the “chief executive” of a council with a budget to manage is regarded as a professional who should be paid.

Justo cuando me estoy preparando para solicitar la ciudadanía española (el plazo finaliza a finales de enero), el país está haciendo todo lo posible para disuadirme de hacerlo. En primer lugar, dos de las fuerzas policiales españolas me han cabreado muchísimo y, además, dos lugares me han convencido de no volver nunca más. ¿Cuál es la historia?

Hoy se celebra la Inmaculada Concepción de la Virgen María, madre de Jesucristo, Hijo de Dios. Los cristianos de todo el mundo consideran que este día es uno de los más importantes del calendario religioso. En muchos países católicos romanos, es un “día festivo” oficial o feriado bancario.