the Car hire Outlet goes live & I get a meter in Spain

Hello one and all,

Well, things are finally moving. My new website www.CarhireOutlet.com has gone live, a little later than scheduled but it's up and running. Check it out and let me know your comments (be kind, i'm sensitive). I currently have contracts in place for car hire in Spain, Cyprus, Portugal and the UK with others coming shortly so if you cannot find the country you are looking for then let me know as I may not have loaded the data for it yet. Also, if you know of any good links that I can add to my site, let me know although I would be looking for reciprocal links as well.

Also, on a really positive note, the house in Spain has a meter! I still can't quite believe it has happened so at the moment I am over the moon and somehow the 14 month wait for it seems to be less difficult now the I have reached this result. Anyone who has not got one yet, keep the faith. As a result I have decided to rent the villa out this coming summer to try and recoup some of the money I've spent out on it whilst it has been sitting there. You can check this out at http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S2152.htm or http://www.carhireoutlet.com/holiday-villa.php both have the same information on them. Of course this puts me in a unique position of renting the villa out and being able to organise the car hire to go with it.

As for the personal life, well, somethings dont change.......

That's all for the moment so catch you all again soon,

David

Is the end in sight? Or should that be the Beginning?

Hola! and Welcome Back!

Well, it's now February 2007, so a belated Happy New Year to one and all.

I've just got some news that things may finally be about to change for my little casa in Spain....... Hmm, now where have I heard that before?

Anyway, news has it that allegedly my house is about to get a meter!!!! Now I am not going to get the bubbly out just yet but it would make a nice belated New Year present if I did. So those of you who visit this blog regularly, please keep your fingers, and everything else, crossed.

Of course, for the last year and a bit since I returned from Spain I have purposely put the idea of living there out of my head and got on with my life here in the UK, or tried. Now that the meter might be finally about to happen, I am thinking about wanting to return but at this stage I am not about to make any rash decisions. My new business is about to launch and spring is only around the corner and London is always a great city when the sun is shining so maybe thats something to think about for 2008. Main thing for this year regarding the house in Spain, is finish off the garden, do the weeding for th 97th time and look at renting it out to claw back some of the money I've been paying out over the last few years.

The business that I have created is almost ready to go live so I am busying myself with making sure all the T's are crossed and the i's are dotted. I've decided to start slowly with only a few destinations and build from there. The site should go live on Tuesday 13th February all being well so check it out if you get time. www.CarhireOutlet.com. If you get a login and password screen pop-up when you click on the link, it means the sites not quite finished, so please bear with me. The web designers have worked really hard on the site and although it is a month overdue I am really pleased with the finished article. I have also managed to sign up some companies for additional extras like travel insurance, airport lounge passes and florida attraction tickets. I am also trying to source some hotel sites and maybe even flight companies for the future. If anyone has a site that they wish to add and has space on their own site for a reciprocal link then please drop me a line via www.CarhireOutlet.com/contactus.php.

Other News

It's been snowing here again in London (did someone mention global warming!) albeit for a day, but there is something magical about this city with a white layer across all the rooftops. It was enough to cause a few headaches for the transport network but of course it doesnt last long and it has all gone now so we are left with just the cold weather instead.

That's all for the moment, wish me luck on Tuesday with the website.

Catch you here again soon,

David

2006 - Update

Hello all,

Yeah, I know I know! Its been 10 months since my last blog. I bet you thought I'd fallen off the face of the planet.

Anyway, this will probably be a blog and a half so stick with it.

I am still in the UK and what a year its been. I managed to almost run out of money in April so I started working for a travel company in London just to give me a bit extra to tied me over. That only lasted three months as I lost the will to live working for someone else. That's what happens when you spend so long in Spain going at the slower pace. Too many trips to the beach and too many siestas. In July, I got news that work was to be done on the electricity and naturally I got a little excited about the whole idea. Work was to start in August! Hmm, Spain working in August? Well I was amazed, August the 2nd arrived and the workmen moved in to sort out the power lines and put new poles in. A hole was dug in the corner of my driveway and I thought, it was a small price to pay if I could get the meter a little quicker. The work was completed in three weeks so now the area is ready to go and Endessa Sevillana can fit a meter...... Of course it's now December and there is still no sign of the meter. I keep chasing and keep chasing and I know that one of these days I will fall over when I find out one is fitted but if patience is a virtue then I must have a gold card in virtuous-ness by now.

In August, I decided to remain in the UK and change direction a little. The house situation would sort itself out eventually and there was little I could do to influence it, so some decisions had to be made and make them I did. The www.CostaLuzSpain.com website was still doing well so I will continue to maintain this from the UK, but I thought that as I have worked in the travel industry for over 15 years, the most logical step was to set up my own business here in the UK and work for myself. Better the devil you know I guess. So I got myself another temporary job for 3 months to tide me over whilst I set it all up. The job finished last week and the website is very close to completion. Of course you'll have to come back to the next blog entry to find out what it is but all being well it will come in very handy for my fellow Costa de la Luz Hombres jejeje. Watch this space!!

I know that I am not alone in this slow miserable process of waiting for a meter and I can only imagine how desperate people feel that have put their life savings into their house only to find they have hit a brick wall. I am sure if anyone has a generator shop, they have had an incredible year for sales but this whole process does leave a bitter taste in your mouth. I can only hope that meters will start to appear soon so people can get on with their lives with a bit more security.

Well thats all for now folks, that brings you pretty much up to date with the goings on in my life.

Chat soon,

David

21 February - Update

Hello All......

Well, I can't believe it's almost the end of February. It's just whizzing by!

Life News

I've been back in the UK now for nearly two months and I've spent most of that time working on the website. Bits of news come back from Spain and it looks like I am no further to getting a meter. Chiclana council have apparently agreed a disupte with Endessa Sevillana so this may now see some meters starting to be installed in approximately 10,000 homes that are still without them. Of course the one thing I have learned from my whole experience is that you should never believe anything in Spain until it happens. My vendor/builder is being very unhelpful at the moment and is trying to wash his hands of the situation but I have also learnt that you need to persist otherwise things don't happen. On a good note, the local area seems to be improving as I have seen by reading the forums that the infrastructure is getting there. A great site for the news locally is www.CostadelaLuzNews.com. I found it recently and it is a very useful resource.

Work News

The website is progressing well. It is still working its way up the search engines. I am in the process of adding some new towns to the main screen. Coming soon is Ayamonte, Isla Cristina, Lepe & L'Antilla in the meantime all businesses for these towns are being listed under Huelva. I have also negotiated contracts with some car rental companies and these can be found by clicking on the links under the car hire tab. Alternatively, click on this link and it will take you straight there. http://www.costaluzspain.com/index.cgi?template=pages/carhire.php&tags=townall. I have also been updating my links page with relevant links for readers of this site. The page is being updated all the time so keep checking back for new additions. http://www.costaluzspain.com/links.php. For the main part of the site (Towns Directory) I am always look for new businesses to be listed so anyone wanting their business or service to be listed then drop me a line. Everyone has a free listing and then after six months I will contact you to see if you wish to remain on the site. Of course to appear on page one is a premium page but, it will only cost you €50 to appear here for the year, so still great value. www.CostaLuzSpain.com has now more than 15,000 hits per month, which is an increase of 13% since January 2006. For the surfers out there and for those wanting to see what the beaches look like in this part of spain, check out the following site. www.costaluzsurf.com.

I am also thinking of adding a forum to the site so let me know your thoughts to forums@costaluzspain.com

Other News

Launch night for Cita Cafe Bar is the 11th March, the bar is located at Aldea de Coto on the road to La Barrosa from Chiclana town Centre so pop along and give them all your support.

That's all for now folks!

David

Three steps forward & two steps back!

Firstly, a Happy New Year or Feliz Ano Nuevo to everyone!

Life News

I arrived in Spain on 22nd November to find that my house had no electricity! For any of you who know the area, this is not an uncommon experience so I rang the Estate Agent to get someone to reconnect it and instead was supplied with a generator and told they were unable to connect the house as the Electricity company were working in the area. Hmm.... Well ten days later and I was still with only a generator so I decided to move in with a friend for a while until it was resolved. Of course, Spain being Spain, it wasnt and still isnt so life continues with the house. On the 30th December I decided that I was getting knowhere fast and so I returned to familiar surroundings (London) for New Year, which is where I am now.

When you speak to people in Spain, everyone says you have a good days and bad days and this last time I certainly had plenty of them. I suppose it comes from looking at things from a Northern European perspective that somehow you expect things to be done reasonably quickly. Well for anyone reading this about to take the plunge, remember nothing is done quickly so make sure you take a course in patience and motivation. Having said all that I still love the Costa de la Luz and all it has to offer. It is a beautiful part of Spain.


Work News

The website continues to grow and evolve. I have some plans for the future for it but at the moment it is where I had hoped it would be six months into the project. I am planning some good deals behind the scenes which will benefit the people reading the site and also myself so I am excited about them. Other than that not much to report for the moment.


Other News

None to report for the moment.

That's all for the time being and catch up with you all soon.

Update - 11th November 2005

Hello again,

My latest update comes to you from London.

Life News:

Well, I am back at my flat in London. I have finally made the decision to move to Spain on a permanent basis and the last thread of my life here in the UK, is my flat. So I have come back to London to put it on the market. I've spent most of 2005 travelling back and forth to the Costa de la Luz, Spain from the UK trying to decide where I am mean't to be to move forward with the next phase of my life. I spent all of August, September and half of October in Spain and have enjoyed settling into my life there and I think it was this time that allowed me to make the decision to cut my ties with Britain. Anyway, the upshot of it all is, the flat is on the market. I've had a few viewings so far but realistically it is probably too close to Christmas for me to actually get a sale. So I suspect come February, things will start moving again. According to the estate agent here the market hasn't stopped or gone into reverse but things are just taking longer to sell. So I shall sit back and wait...

I have also decided to rent my villa out next year. It's a self catering villa and you can find the details on the following link. http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S2152.htm.

In the meantime, I have been spending time with my friends here and catching up on the latest news. Back to Spain on the 22nd November so I can see the sunshine again, something destinctly lacking here in London at the moment.

Work News:

The other reason for coming back to London, other than selling the flat, is to visit the World Travel Market www.wtmlondon.com, which is on at the Excel Exhibition centre in Londons' docklands area. It is an enormous show with the majority of countries represented in one way or another, so I am headed there on Wednesday 16th. I have found it is one of the best places to meet and make contacts with travel related people. The Tourist Information Offices for Andalucia and the Costa de la Luz will be there, as will some of the hotel chains and car rental companies. I have attended the show for the last six years because of my previous jobs so I will be hoping to meet up with a few of them to see what I can put in place for my readers of www.CostaLuzSpain.com and also help compliment my web site as a resource of information for the region. Statistics for the sites continue to increase so everything is heading in the right direction. Not having general internet access for most rural and not so rural properties in Chiclana de la Frontera and other areas of Cadiz does cause a few problems but I think it is only a matter of time before someone manages to get cheap internet access off the ground locally. When it does my site will be ready and hopefully people will begin to use it more as a great place to find what they are looking for. I have enjoyed putting the site together and continuing to work on the site, its amazing how working for yourself never feels like a chore like it can when you work for other people.

Other News:

I have recently discovered a couple of good sites out there in cyberland and wanted to share them with you. Firstly, there is www.BritishExpats.com, this site has some really useful information and discussion groups. so give it a whirl. Doesn't just cover Spain, it has groups for all over the world. Also, there is http://www.musicalspanish.com/tutorial/tutorial.htm which allows you to test your spanish language skills. I've been using it the last couple of days and was surprised at how much I know already. (All I need now is the brain to translate it a little faster).

Well that's it from me for now...... If there is any news I will come back and let you know it!

Catch you soon.....

David

Latest News 24 October 2005

Yeah I know its been quite on the blogging front, so apologies for that!

Life news:

Things at home are pretty good although the weather has definately taken a change for the colder. Having said that its still great to have sunshine in late October. I am finally starting work on my garden, wasnt sure where the main water pipe ran and like a prized wally found it with the pick whilst i was digging the garden. Manage to get it fixed with help of a friend. I am returning to the UK for three weeks but on my return I shall get the remainder of the garden, grass, plants, patio etc.... I have also started to go to local restaurants to find some good grub. Not done too badly so far although it would be great to find a decent Chinese restaurant somewhere, if anyone knows one, let me know. I do like my food and however great spanish food is, its nice to have a variety.

My spanish is coming along slowly but I dont need to tell anyone living locally the fun we have with understanding what comes when you ask a question. Where I am in Andalucia (for those not familiar with the area) the locals speak very fast (muy rapido) and have a tendency to miss the letter "S" from a lot of words and they also shorten the sentences, this makes learning a little more difficult. I am getting better with spanish people I chat with on MSN because its all written and gives you time to think of an answer. If only real life was like that, especially when you are in the queue at the supermarket and the check out person asks you a question, only to go bright red because there is a queue of people behind you..... aaaargh!

Work news:

The website is gathering pace slowly. I am currently without internet access at home but am able to use a friends connection, which is not ideal but a start. Most of the time I am updating the database. Everyone gets a free listing on the site. The word on the street is positive, most people like the look and feel and find it easy to navigate around. Admittedly its early days still for me so I am still ironing out the hiccups but ithink that is natural. I finally got around to updating the Links page and I have also added a new section for classifieds.

Well thats it for the moment, will keep you posted of further developments either at home or work. Please feel free to say hello and add your comments.

I was asked the other day if I was going to add a forum and decided not to but if there is something you would like to see on the site then let me know and I will see what I can do.

Catch you soon.......

David