Hiya,

So I thought it was about time to touch base with you to update you on how Ibiza is treating me and the quirky things that make me smile coupled with the irritations that make me grit my teeth!

There are by far many more pros than cons of living here so I’ll start on a positive note with the things I love.

 Living in the sunshine

Waking up to a beautiful blue sky every morning is by far the most energising, uplifting advantage to my new life. It really does beat the grey depressing mornings in the UK.

 

 Amazing restaurants

Being such a foodie, I love to try out different restaurants and cuisines. I’m enjoying making my way through a long list of restaurants I’d like to try and crossing them off the list.  Saying that, taking three children out to eat on a regular basis is not only expensive but too many late nights makes getting them up the next day for school a tortuous event!!! When I lived in the UK, I always found it hard to get a decent juice unless I was in London. In Ibiza, you can get organic cold-pressed fresh juices on every street – even the ‘not so nice areas’ have nailed this one!

The Ibiza zone

Any one that has visited the magical island of Ibiza will have experienced its chilled out energy which is amplified by the high level of quartz crystal and the strong ley lines which cross through the famous spiritual rock, Es Vedra. Since arriving here, my 500mph life has slowed right down! Granted, I’m not working as much as I was which has reduced my stress levels and but the vibe here is so relaxed and it’s really benefitting my health.

My children’s after school activities have seriously slowed down too and I LOVE it!! Henry and Archie still play football three times a week but the tennis, golf, tutors and all the after school clubs (not forgetting the last minute texts from the school inviting you to come and watch your child in the pouring rain) are all a distant memory! I am sad Archie hasn’t yet resumed his golf as he’s a talented little golfer but I will get that up and running again in September. The majority of families head back home to the pool or to a beach after school to relax and so after school tutoring is unheard of. There are after school clubs but I’m helping the children to choose wisely as I am adamant I’m not going back to my old life of having to be in three different places at once and I think that the more relaxed vibe is benefiting them too.

 

School is also more relaxed here, learning is more fun, less competitive and the teachers are very laid back. I appreciate that this style of schooling isn’t for everyone but my children, especially my eldest, are thriving. No more pressures of failing exams, or not passing the entrance exams to a certain school. I nearly cried when I read my eldest son’s school report as I couldn’t believe the transformation in him! He’s never enjoyed schoolwork, but since moving here, he’s now doing well in his subjects, and finally trying hard in maths! I’ve noticed that he is also less uptight and generally happier in himself.

The children only get homework Monday to Thursday as the teachers think weekends should be for family time! Halle-bloody-lujah!!!! Amen to that!!!

 

Outside living

It’s such a simple thing, but I am loving being able to eat my dinner outside every evening! In England it’s a really welcome treat when the weather enables you to eat outside, so to be able to do it day in, day out, without question, is a luxury! Also, when you meet friends, it’s great (and so much more relaxing) to meet them on a beach or at an outside play area. No more worrying about what you’ve got planned and whether the weather’s going to ruin your plans!!!

 

 

The gym

I’ve joined a fab health club and BFIT gym has everything I need. I’m enjoying CrossFit classes, a spin studio to die for and a very high standard of personal training. I also love the Passion Café at the gym where you can get all sorts of clean eating treats pre or post workout. I’m looking forward to doing more yoga as the standard of teaching at BFIT is also exceptionally high.

 

Meeting new people

I’m so enjoying meeting new people – from all over the world. Henry’s best friend is German and Archie’s best friend is Dutch. I really like that my children’s International schooling is opening their eyes to different nationalities and new worldwide opportunities. Of course, I miss my friends and family but with FaceTime, WhatsApp and a two hour flight we can get round this to a degree!

 

The coffee

Although I was never an avid coffee drinker when I was living in the UK, since living here I’m much more partial to a cup. I don’t know what it is, but I have not been to one café or restaurant that has served a bad coffee! Gone are my days of bitter, cheap coffee that gives you teacher’s breath! If you visit Ibiza, have a coffee and you will know where I am coming from. Just don’t drink it after 1pm!

 

The sunset

I’m not on the West coast of Ibiza so the 25 minute drive to watch the sun setting is worth every mile in the car! I love sunset in Ibiza and I also find it really emotional. Even my kids love it and it’s probably one of the few things that they will do together without one of them kicking off!

 

Of course, although we have a lovely life here, there are always going to be disadvantages and there are lots of things I have struggled with since we uprooted. However, I’m trying really hard to ensure that the little annoyances along the way aren’t negatively affecting our enjoyment and appreciation of what is otherwise a wonderful way of life.

 

The not so hot …

 

Cooking

Cooking of course has always been my number one passion but I must admit, when the thermometer rises above 22˚C I find it very hard to find the same motivation for cooking as I did! It doesn’t help that my kitchen is very old-fashioned, with the worst hob EVER and an oven with an irreparable broken thermometer (meaning I’m never quite sure what the true temperature of the oven is!) Roll on January when the building work on our house will start and I have a new kitchen to look forward to.

The water in Ibiza

Before I moved here, I had no idea that the water in Ibiza was of such poor quality as it is! Ibiza has an extremely poor water supply – the water is full of calcium, salt and chlorine and is absolutlely not drinkable. As a result, brief showers are the order of the day and bathing is out of the question here. I’m currently looking into having a water system fitted in the house that will mean my brand new washing machine may last longer than 15 months. No, I’m not joking, it’s really that bad!

As more and more people flock to Ibiza during the summer season, demand for water goes through the roof but the water supply actually dips because of the lack of rainfall. The government is so concerned about the lack of water here, there are talks about putting each house on a water ration! Yikes.

 

The state of my hair

My hair is sooooooo dry – not from the sun I may add, but from the crappy water. I permanently look like a scarecrow! I’m currently resorting to pouring half a bottle of Evian over my hair every time I wash it to rinse off the thick layer of salt and chlorine left behind. On top of the scarecrow look I also have to deal with the fact my hair is so blonde and bright you may have to even close your eyes when you talk to me! I have no bleach or pre-lightner in my hair, but the sun is doing a pretty good job of bleaching it naturally! The good thing is, it’s keeping my lovely hairdresser Mel back in the UK busy.

 

The traffic

Seriously, you think the M25 is bad!!! As the island gets busier for the summer season, the traffic is getting worse and getting anywhere takes double the time! My new current spanish sentence to say is ‘el traffic en las carrateras’ (said through gritted teeth) which means ‘the traffic on the roads!!’ Nothing is in the same location, whether it’s the bank, the butchers, the supermarket, the school … I’m clocking up some miles and getting through petrol like it’s going out of fashion!! Oh and not forgetting, parking is an absolute pain in the bum-per too!

 

The supermarkets

The supermarkets out here are so backward it’s actually quite shocking! Walking around the supermarket trying to find inspiration for what to cook for dinner is about as uninspiring as the prospect of going for a run in the middle of an English winter.

There is absolutely no cheating here – no decent bits for the picnic hamper like coleslaw or ready made beetroot salad (I mean that is a nuisance to make yourself as your hands stain for at least two days afterwards.) You either have to make everything from scratch yourself or live off baguettes, Serrano ham and cheese for the rest of your life! Not very CCwK at all!!

Oh and the crappy, plastic shopping trollies are like something you would see within Lego Land!

 

Spanish drivers

The standard of driving out here is generally the pits!! Other motorists cut you up at roundabouts and are constantly in the wrong lane but still have the audacity to scream at you in Spanish! When you park your car it’s quite common to come back to some absoloute you know what having blocked you in, resulting in you having to do a 16 point turn to get you out! Oh, and as for the demonic scooter drivers, say no more!! They cut you up, weave in and out of the traffic, drive on both sides of the road and have a nasty habit of sitting right in your blind spot. You need nerves of steel and eyes in the back of your head behind the wheel!

I’m not sure if any of you reading this live in Ibiza but I’m sure if you do you do, you will agree with me about the thumbs up and thumb downs.

I guess it goes to show that every place or situation has its pro’s and con’s but personally I’m definitely giving Ibiza a thumbs up place to live in for now!

Love Kate x