BREXIT
WhaT happEns noW?
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DREam of CaDIzfoRnICaTIon
hEalTh
Top fooDs To BoosT youR ImmunE sysTEm
CoRonavIRus WhaT CommunITIEs aRE DoIng To hElp
BEauTy
fRom ThE InsIDE Iv ThERapy
a hEaRTfElT mEssagE from Mr Abdelhadi Rhiti, founder of United Expats Magazine. Firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to all those that have suffered or lost loved ones to this terrible Corona Virus, who’s pain will go on long after the epidemic has passed. I would like to give special thanks, as I’m sure do all of you, to the brave and selfless health workers and indeed all of the front-line workers, putting their own lives at risk so that we, as a society, can come through this with the least damage as possible. It is vitally important that we continue to observe the rules of social distancing in order that this disease can be defeated, however difficult that may become. It is also crucial that we take time to care for our parents, children, brothers and sisters as well as neighbours that may have no family. This could be just a phone call, or an offer of collecting their shopping or medication. We have seen an unprecedented change in attitude towards our fellow man, with demonstrations of kindness a plenty, rarely seen in modern times. I sincerely hope that this type of consideration, and love for one’s fellow man continues as we come out of isolation to the “New Normal”. I pray that you all remain safe and well! Abdelhadi Rhiti
COLOFON Chief editor:
Abdelhadi Rhiti Art direction and lay-out:
Jacqueline Brugman
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BREXIT, ThE TRansITIon pERIoD Having reached the end of the first post Brexit financial quarter, we had hoped to have completed the bureaucratic aspects and by now be comfortable in our new roles as non-European Community expats, whatever that may entail. The world pandemic has, however, put an abrupt holt on proceedings….
Most of us will have obtained the required certificate of residence, or “residencia” and at least applied to exchange our UK or European driving license for a Spanish one but what happens now? The original plan was to allow British residents until the end of the year to complete this process but the state of alarm declared by President Sanchez has meant that this has all been put on hold and no one knows for certain, as yet, weather there will be an extension to this period to facilitate compliance. It would seem the logical conclusion and so we must presume this will be the case.
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Gratitude
in a time of chaos It’s now been just over 3 months since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the corona-virus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It’s been an incredibly difficult time for many people worldwide, with lots of uncertainty about when everything will return to how it was before. Every day we are faced with a new fear, a new worry, and a new stress about the coronavirus pandemic and its long term effects. It’s important to be informed about what is happening and pay attention to public health advice to minimise risk. And it’s also essential to take care of yourself, especially when it comes down to stress. Stress dramatically weakens your immune system and can negatively affect many areas of your life. Research has shown that a daily practice of gratitude is good for us, helping us stay healthier, happier, reduce stress, and get a better night’s sleep. Although the past few months have been challenging, it’s been an excellent opportunity to appreciate how lucky we are, in many ways. The next time you feel down about having to stay at home, give thanks that you have a roof over your head to quarantine, as 150 million of the world’s population is homeless. Appreciate the time that you can spend at home doing things that you didn’t have time to do before, such as spending precious time with your family and using this time to gain a better self-awareness.
posITIvE ChangE Giving gratitude in life can have so many benefits for you and your family, to appreciate all those small things that we usually take for granted. A daily gratitude practice may not seem like much, but being thankful for just one thing each day can bring a positive change to your whole outlook on life. Mentally preparing ourselves is crucial to stay healthy during any pandemic or crisis that may arise. The coronavirus has been an opportunity to see clearly what we hold dearest and to appreciate everything we have much more than before. Stay well informed, take care of your mental and physical wellbeing, and be kind.
Lucy Francesca Hancock uBE-5
CommunITy lIfE The British community living abroad tend to be a tight knit bunch, not only for socialising, which plays a key part in life on the Costa but also when it comes to pulling together to overcome hurdles and obstacles, like the pitfalls presented to many by Brexit, or, more recently, the anxiety caused by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
We can see on any social media platform unlimited examples of how they rally to the aid of the most vulnerable in our community, shopping for those unable to get out themselves, providing food packages for those that may need them and emotional support for those that might not be coping quite as well as the rest. One such example of goodwill is Emily, a young British girl living in Fuengirola who, with help from her mother, Naomi Sarah, has created a fundraising platform, The Faith Fundraiser. Their family business, Renova Glass and Stainless Steel, has, like many small businesses, been put on standby and they have decided to dedicate the time on their hands by raising funds to provide necessities, like food, medicines, nappies, masks, sanitizers, to both local residents in need and front line workers. They are collaborating with the Red Cross and Civil Protection to ensure that these products reach those that need them. Emily and her family
https://www.facebook.com/donate/295372578116154/
haRD WoRK Another member of the community worth mentioning for all her hard work, hosting events at her Karaoke bar, “Capones�, in Benalmadena is Agnes Donnachie. For years now, with the help of her husband, Bruce, she has been organising fun fundraising events to help and support local people in need of medical treatment or some of the many abandoned animal rescue centres, for example.
In fact, expats that want to be helpful, both to the brits living in their area or to the locals, actually play an important role in the community, running charity shops, sponsoring events, crafting and selling goods at fairs and market stalls, volunteering as translators for doctors’ appointments. If you
Agnes and Bruce
want to join in and help, start by contacting your local branch of Cudeca, The Lions Club, or an animal charity, for example, and make your time count.
ThE afTERmaTh
So, as the world is coming back out of hibernation, what does the Post Brexit New Normal really look like and how do you see it affecting Brits abroad?
“For many, I fear that too little came too late to allow them to survive. What we do know is that the welfare benefits system in Spain is hard to qualify for and has a short life. It may help with survival, but not recovery, and not for long. Whether or not this will result in families moving back to the UK remains to be seen.” I also asked Bill if he thought that the expat community faced any hurdles peculiar to themselves as a collective, experiencing this pandemic as residents in a foreign country, “Something else which has been highlighted by all this is the extent to which a vast number of Brits do not speak Spanish. Maybe this has served as a wakeup call for many who couldn’t make an application for Social Aid, couldn’t explain to the Guardia Civil why they were out and where they were going, or couldn’t call the police to ask advice.” I asked Bill his opinion regarding those that decided to move to Spain in the future, as non-Europeans and this was his reply,
Bill Anderson, first foreign councillor in Mijas
I put this and other questions to Mr Bill Anderson, as a British resident, continually active in the community and the first foreigner to become a councillor for the Mijas Town Hall.
“Many people have been waiting until past the last minute to get their paperwork for Brexit in order. With official buildings closed some may now have problems getting these things sorted, especially as without their Residencia they may have some difficulties getting back into Spain” “The 14th of March saw life change for the whole of Spain. The British living here were no more or less affected by it, in fact for some, especially those living here in retirement, other than the loss of freedom of movement, life did not change that much, certainly not financially at least. Those most hit by the pandemic and consequent economic hibernation, were people with small businesses.” he continued. I asked Bill how he thought that the expat community business owners would weather this storm and did he expect to see many businesses simply falling to the wayside and the owners returning home,
“As for the future, we really have no idea how long it will take the Spanish economy to recover from all of this. People who, in the past, may have made the brave decision to sell up and move to Spain to set up a business, may now think twice about it. When we couple this with Brexit, maybe the dream of living the good life in Spain is over for many.” We certainly are living in uncertain times, with more questions arising daily. A vaccine for Covid19 may be exceedingly long time in coming, we still have no vaccine for aids, for example. We may never have a vaccine. We will get used to wearing face masks and gloves, to standing a little further apart in queues, to planning shopping trips more efficiently and spending more time at home than we would have in the past, perhaps even working or studying from home and not greeting family and friends with effusive embraces and kisses will be a challenge to some, like myself. Until the workforce returns nervously to their positions at the forefront and the borders begin to open to those first travellers braving it all for a holiday abroad, we will not really know what this new normal really feels like. Life and the making of livelihoods must continue though and for many, life, with all it`s struggles, is better faced with the sun on their faces.
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fooDs To hElp BoosT ThE ImmunE sysTEm Since the coronavirus pandemic began, everyone
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worldwide has been making changes to protect themselves from catching it and help stop it from spreading even more. Profusely washing our hands, wearing protective equipment and making sure we don’t have close contact with the outside world are a few examples of what everybody is doing at the moment.
However, there are lots of other ways that we can protect ourselves and our families against any virus, and that starts with the food choices we make. We are lucky enough to have an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables all around us and there is a reason why the earth has given us everything we need to achieve optimal health.
is an excellent food to add to your cup of lemon water tea. Ginger and lemon shots are also fantastic to take every morning to protect yourself against viruses.
Citrus fruits
When we are faced with any virus, the first line of defence we have is our immune system. Our immune system protects us against anything that tries to harm our bodies and by improving our diet and incorporating more fresh fruits and veggies, we can give ourselves a chance at fighting back against all viruses and illnesses we may be faced with.
Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits are packed full of ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin C, which has been used for years to boost immune systems. Try to avoid store-bought pre-packaged juices and go for freshly squeezed. Store-bought juices packaged days and even sometimes months before, lose their benefits as time passes. Try having fresh lemon water first thing in the morning as an excellent way to flush out toxins from the night before.
Wild Blueberries
leafy greens
Wild Blueberries are adaptogenic, which means that they help the body deal with stress. This amazing, delicious fruit offers powerful immune system support and is anti-inflammatory. Try adding frozen wild blueberries to smoothies and use fresh blueberries to add to porridge in the mornings.
Leafy greens are a crucial part of a healthy diet. They are full of vital minerals and vitamins that support our bodies natural functions. Eating a diet high in leafy greens supports your health and well-being by giving your body what it needs.
garlic
Raw honey is a magical and delicious food with a huge list of health benefits but most of the store-bought kinds of honey have gone through a process which removes most of this. Raw honey is pure, unheated and unprocessed and this means that all of its benefits are preserved. It’s packed full of antioxidants, enzymes and vitamins which support our immune system. It’s antibacterial, anti-fungal and can be used to heal wounds. Making a glass of warm water with lemon and ginger then adding a spoon of raw honey is an excellent way to boost your immunity.
Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs. Although garlic has the most benefits when eaten raw, it still has huge benefits when cooked also. To maximise garlic's immune-boosting effects, aim to eat one clove two to three times per day. Try adding a full bulb of garlic to soups when you are starting to feel a little under the weather.
ginger Ginger is antibacterial, so it helps support the immune system in so many ways. It’s filled with immune-boosting benefits and uBE-8
Raw honey
By Lucy Francesca Hancock
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Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
Try incorporating more healing foods into your diet to help your body's defences. Even small changes can make a huge difference. Empower yourself by taking control of what you put into your body.
gIngER TE
a anyonE!
BEauTy fRom ThE InsIDE As we well know, beauty and skincare are increasingly important today, being able to find infinite brands that assure us an almost miraculous change. During this quarantine we’ve been able to see that social media has been flooded with tutorials, online beauty courses, new eco-friendly brands, etc. But, how can we generate this change from within? Surely you will be thinking about food and a change in our habits, but sometimes even though we lead healthier lives, it is difficult for those benefits to be reflected on the outside. Sometimes we take vitamins and supplements to regulate a lack of them, thus improving our health and beauty, but sometimes we cannot see the results, since their absorption is slower.
Iv Therapy If you follow the most famous beauty gurus at the moment or you like to read the latest news about fashion and beauty, then I’m sure that you’ve heard about ‘IV therapy’. If you haven’t, let me explain it to you:
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“IV therapy (intravenous vitamins) delivers nutrients through veins letting them circulate throughout the body faster . This way you’ll get almost a 100% absorption, in order to rehydrate, rejuvenate and revitalize your body.” – Vit&Drip Center In comparison to the ingestion of vitamins via tablets, this therapy delivers all the vitamins right into your blood stream, absorbing them instantly. The tablets must first go to your stomach, in order to absorb them (just 8% is absorbed).
more than beauty IV therapy is a safe and perfect treatment, not just for those who wants to improve their beauty, but for those who want to improve their physical and mental health as well. Some of the benefits are: • • • • •
Improve immune health and allergies Boost energy levels Improve symptoms of depression and anxiety Reduce the symptoms of migraines Slow the aging process and reduce the appearance of wrinkles • Strengthen hair, nails, skin, and eyes • Improve blemishes • …And the list goes on and on.
vIT&DRIp hEalTh anD aEsThETICs ClInIC With more than 20 year of experience, Dr. Halina Latasiewicz is the medical director of this clinic located in Puerto Banús.
Their main goal, is to improve physical and mental health, providing essential vitamins and nutrients directly to where they are needed.
“Vit&Drip also offers you a choice to customize your infusion to address a wide range of health symptoms.”They have a range of treatments such as: • • • • •
Vitamin Drips Booster Shots Nad+ Therapy Face Fitness Treatments And so much more!
If you decide to improve your beauty from the inside, then Vit&Drip specialist has got you covered. By Sara Quirós uBE-13
REal EsTaTE, ThE nEW noRmal
markets start to stabilise. This will only happen once tourism and national borders opening up once again and Governments are happy they have contained this Virus.
I have been working in Real estate on the Costa del Sol for 20 years. Every 10 years something happens to the Economy which has a major impact and effect on property prices. 2008-2010 it was the financial crisis, now we have the Coronavirus in 2020. I remember the last financial crisis, it was catastrophic for the Spanish economy. Spain had overexposed themselves to the construction sector, this made up a good portion of their GDP for the whole economy. The property market did not start to recover until early 2016, during the recovery period the Spanish government implemented new laws and legislation in Spain to prepare better if there would be another crisis in the future. Now in 2020, we have the Coronavirus, again something that the world did not prepare for with Economies shut down overnight and people confined to their house for months due to the pandemic. The World will have to start to turn again soon, the question is what will we find once reality and the new normal returns. The impact of the crisis will affect real estate prices due to low confidence and lack of liquidly from the Banking sector. Real estate prices will start to decline gradually depending on with owners personal circumstances, those who do not have to sell will ride out the unsettled times and wait until the Financial uBE-14
Looking at the property market on the Costa del Sol just like the financial crisis in 2010 there will be a lot of interest from investors around the world to pick up a bargain in one of the best locations in Europe. The Costa has a lot of overseas owners who have second home properties if they cannot visit or rent them out then the only option will be to sell them and the only people who will be able to buy them will be cash buyers who will not pay the market price. The future is going to be uncertain with confidence low and Government’s looking to bounce back from the crisis it really is hard to predict when the world will recover. The Costa del Sol before the crisis was thriving with lots of different nationalities looking to make it their home due to the warm climate and relaxed lifestyle it provides. I hope this trend continues in the future because this will bring confidence to the property market and help the economy recover gradually hopefully this is sooner rather than later. Warner Laurie – Director W L Costa properties
WoRKIng In spaIn
as non-EuRopEans You can find Brits working in almost any field, all over Spain, of course but predominantly, the greater part of British expats resident here are either retired, self-employed as tradesmen or in commerce, or employed in the tourism sector. Working as self-employed in Spain as a European was relatively straight forward, you paid your dues to the social security and to the tax man, took out liability insurance and you were pretty much ready to go.
financial assistance If you were employed, you were given a work contract and your employer contributed to the social services on your behalf, entitling you to medical care and, in the event of becoming unemployed you could claim for financial assistance for a period determined by the length of time for which you had been employed. How much and in what way has this changed since Britain left the community? Well, for those that were already contributing to the system, the Spanish government facilitated greatly the transition with blanket plans whereby, as long as you acted within their timespan and submitted your due applications to continue, permission would have been granted to do so. Those Brits that were working “cash in hand”, without declaring their income, however, found themselves in the predicament of not being able to complete this process and those expats that couldn’t or chose not to be tax residents will now only be able to spend 90 days of the year here. For those Brits that arrive in the future, hoping to be allowed to work, things may be expected to be quite difficult as per they were prior to Spain’s inclusion in the European community.
self-employed The Spanish government has made financial provision for the workforce to help them face the situation created by the ongoing state of alarm declared for the pandemic. Self-employed people are receiving benefits if their loss of earnings compared to the last 6 months is greater than 75%. Likewise, those that lost their jobs, even if they hadn’t contributed the required length of time are being allowed to claim and claims are being fast tracked, thankfully. Small companies are being offered credits with no interest and paybacks over periods of up to 10 years, in the hope that they will be able to continue trading or providing service once the lockdown is over. In fact, most groups have been given assistance in one form or another with the exception of seasonal workers, who would have typically commenced work in bars, restaurants, hotels etc. In the weeks building up to Easter and continued through to at least the end of September. No doubt, once the state of alarm is lifted and the workforce is slowly allowed to resume activity, we will see more clearly how much and to what depth Brexit has altered things for expats working in Europe.
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alTERnaTIvE InComE While no one can be blamed for tuning in on at least a daily basis to find out the latest updates on the world pandemic and whilst staying safe and protecting our loved ones is obviously everyone’s priority, providing for them is equally as concerning and the cause of deep anxiety for many, if not most of us at this historically tragic moment in time.
It’s safe to say that the vast majority of people worldwide have seen a drastic drop in their income. But adversity breeds resourcefulness and there are numerous examples of people finding alternative forms of earning, if not a living, at least a little something extra to improve cash flow. Some are creating online shops on social media to retail cosmetics, perfume, clothes and health and beauty appliances, some are offering tuition, keep fit classes, dance classes, piano classes, cookery classes and a seemingly unending list of alternative diets. Others are dabbling in investment on the stock exchange or bitcoin and of course there are master classes for this available online too.
online orders Many businesses that didn’t before, are now offering online orders and home delivery, not just restaurants and drinks companies but suppliers of DIY materials, paint, tools, fabrics, soil, seeds and just about anything you can think of to do with home improvements. uBE-16
To some, this is a way of keeping their customers for when they are able to attend them once more in person, while for others, this is a totally new initiative. Working online and from home was already a reality for some and a growing tendency that was gaining a foothold across the western world but the lockdown does seem have been the catalyst that has forced it’s expansion and I am supposing it is now here to stay, which is great news for many parents and for those concerned about the environment and global warming.
WhaT aBouT ThE
ChIlDREn? Living abroad with children presents other dilemmas with many parents worrying about education and childcare. The question most frequently asked by expat parents with families is whether children would benefit more from staying in the UK curriculum or going to Spanish speaking schools and the truth is that there is no correct answer to this one but there are several key factors to consider. There are some excellent private British schools here in Spain but they are not easily affordable. Having said that, many families make other sacrifices in order to keep their children in the UK curriculum. If you are not certain that you will be living here for more than a few years or if your children were already more than a year or two into the secondary cycle, then you would probably be inclined to choose a private British school. On the down side, they probably won’t reach the same level of command of the Spanish language as their counterparts that enrol in Spanish speaking schools and may have to homologise their qualifications to find employment here once they leave school. Spanish community schools are free to the children of parents that are tax residents here and offer a fairly well-rounded education with a portion of the centres giving emphasis to language skills while another portion concentrate more on technology. Parents usually must purchase at least some of the textbooks as well as provide all the essential school materials like paper, pens and pencils, scissors and even toilet paper. Schools uniforms aren’t generally required for state schools. Nursery school and play school start at a much earlier age here, in fact, most localities have centres that take children from as young as 3 months old and they can stay in these centres until they reach infants school age, which here is 3 years old. Nursery schools teach some important basic skills to pre-schoolers and prepares them very well to start the next educational cycle. The school day in Spain is generally from 9am to 2pm for infants and juniors, with an extra hour at both ends for secondary schoolers. In the afternoons,
extracurricular classes are offered by most schools, hence, most schools can also offer basic, healthy menus to those children that aren’t going home for lunch. These classes, some free, some for a small monthly fee, tend to end at 5 or 6pm. Of course, one of the biggest attractions for families to live here is the outdoor life afforded by the good weather and longer sunlight hours, so, naturally, most towns have plenty of sports facilities and coaching as well as dancing classes or the possibility of learning to play an instrument. Whichever choice you make, children adapt with surprising ease and offering them the chance to live abroad, learn a new language and make new friends can only be beneficial to them.
Spanish schools tend to not have uniforms and most have a canteen.
Most towns have good sports facilities and extracurricular activities.
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CaDIzfoRnIa;
ThE sECRET DEsTInaTIon of El palmaR In CaDĂz Summer is fast approaching and we all at some point wish to escape to a place with neverending sandy beaches, crystal blue sea and amazing weather. Well here’s a little secret place in the province of Cadiz which the locals call Cadizfornia, as its the locals equivalent to California with great surf and beautiful scenery. In this province lies many spectacular beaches which I have had the pleasure of visiting last summer on my road trip adventures. One, in particular, I feel I need to tell you about. Imagine you are surrounded by incredible views of infinite ocean, the sun is shining down on you and you see people with surfboards, amazing camper vans of every colour and size. Surf shacks, surf bars and cafes with lots of outdoor seating, almost everyone is barefoot, skateboarders, hippies, surfers and people travelling through. The cool breeze you feel calms you and you feel the great vibes the place brings. An unspoiled, rustic little town which has only one little corner shop. The laid-back atmosphere and golden beaches make you feel like you could stay here forever.
great surf, good waves El Palmar is located 5 kilometres north of Vejer de la Frontera and only a short drive from Conil. There you can find everything you need for a great surf, good waves and a place to hire all the equipment if needed. Every traveller knows that the perfect friendly beaches need more than just a picturesque view and El Palmar is great for everyone. The sand is silky smooth, the water is crystal clear and shallow close to the beach, El Palmar is very dog and child friendly too and great for all levels of surfers and paddleboarders. There is an infinite number of beaches around Europe however if you ever have the opportunity to visit Cadiz, go to El Palmar beach. A place with a great vibe, spectacular views and awesome waves. Cadizfornia the next best thing to California. Lucy Francesca Hancock
United British Expats 571 London Road, Hadleigh, Essex, SS7 2EA Avenida de Mijas, 2, Benazlmรกdena, Spain 29630 28 Carrer de Casanova Barcelona 08011, Spain M +34 626 307 629
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