Packing to evacuate..............again

[ThePainInSpain]

We have now had virtually not stop rain for almost 4 days. At the mment it is torrential.

We are packing to evacuate the house, I have screwed the flood gate to the door, and I shall now be awake probably all night hoping that the river doesn't burst it's banks again.

Exactly 12 months ago, we were moving back into our house having been flooded out and evacuated to a friends holiday apartment for almost 4 weeks.

12 months on and we're possibly going through all again.

10 years ago the water authority spent millions on flood relief at the mouth of the Rio Guadalehorce in Malaga and we were told this area would never flood again, this will be the third time in 7 years.

I really do hate this country when it's like this, it's a cess pit.

 

[TheDoctor]

That sounds bad.
A warning to all potential ex-pats, I suppose. The grass isn't necessarily greener.

 

[slowmotion]

Fingers crossed for you TPIS

 

[ThePainInSpain]

That sounds bad.
A warning to all potential ex-pats, I suppose. The grass isn't necessarily greener.

Never seen it so bloody green after all this rain..................................

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Well is now 03:15 and the rain is still torrential, and our plot is underwater. I think at this point it's just from the volume of rain. I hope it is and not from the river.

I know how bad they have it in Japan, but this is personal and I'm scared and angry that the Spanish Authorities could allow it to happen again.

If you want my advice, never move to Spain, it's a dump and they don't deserve the patronism.

I wish we could move, but we bought our house and have no chance of selling now, so we're trapped.

It was all so exciting and 'romantic' 10 years ago when we moved here, but like many other ex-pats, both here and who have returned to the UK, the dream has turned into a nightmare.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

It looks like we've survived the night. The plot is underwater but hasn't reached the house. It's now stopped raining at last, and the water appears to have already started to recede. We now need a good period without rain to allow it to drain away and soak in.

 

[asterix]

I do feel for you. We were quite interested in getting somewhere in Catalonia and knew quite a few people there. Many have bought places whose value has plummeted and they can't afford to sell. Is that TV prog. 'A place in the sun' still going? I doubt it, somehow.

Our ex-pat former neighbours in France built a big new house, or at least the walls and roof but now they find they can't afford it and are living in the kitchen and one bedroom. They can't go back to the UK and they can't sell the small cottage they bought next to us because they won't drop the price to what is now a realistic level.

Last summer there weren't many Brits out here and this summer there'll be far fewer I predict. We are ok so far because we bought a very affordable ruin and do nearly all the building ourselves. That's hard work but at least it's great cycling country!

 

[XmisterIS]

I wish we could move, but we bought our house and have no chance of selling now, so we're trapped.

How come you won't be able to sell it now? Because they lied to you about it and no-one will touch it with a barge pole?

If you want my advice, never move to Spain, it's a dump and they don't deserve the patronism.

I am Germanic; I like Germanic countries! UK, Netherlands, Germany, etc, I could happily live in any of those places.

 

[MarkF]

That sounds bad.
A warning to all potential ex-pats, I suppose. The grass isn't necessarily greener.

It's defintely greener in Asturias, I've lived there, think my heart is still there, a natural paradise. Wish I could afford to go back, I love the North coast.

 

[PBancroft]

Eep. Hope you have no need to evacuate and the Govt. actually do something about the flooding.

I'm probably telling you to suck eggs, but have you and your family got evac bags prepped?

 

[Wigsie]

It looks like we've survived the night. The plot is underwater but hasn't reached the house. It's now stopped raining at last, and the water appears to have already started to recede. We now need a good period without rain to allow it to drain away and soak in.

Glad it seems to be easing and sorry to hear about the problems you have had. My folks live up the coast just outside Mojacar and nearly got evacuated a few years back with the fires they had there... Fingers crossed the river banks hold now and you get some luck before the next rainy period.

 

[slugonabike]

Here's hoping that the rain holds off and the water recedes.

 

[661-Pete]

Sorry to hear about your woes and your disllusionment, TPiS, this is something that touches near to my heart! At least the floods seem to have passed you by this time, I wish the same could be said for the people of Japan...

One of my brothers-in-law is like you an expat living in southern Spain - though a long way from you 'round the corner' in Murcia region. I don't know whether they've had any flooding problems - he's a bit reticent and we tend not to ask general and tactless questions like 'how do you find it living in Spain?' I suspect the cold feet syndrome is by no means uncommon!

As for us, we still hang on to the place we bought in France, seemed a good idea at the time to park the inheritance from my Mum in overseas property. At least the Euro has gone up against the Pound! But it is a constant worry.

Even in that area there have been severe floodings in the past few years, though luckily our house wasn't involved. But we were told that a torrent of water swept down the hillside once, and washed away part of a road leading to the village.

We keep it only as a holiday home, and all ideas of becoming expats ourselves are on hold now - and will probably never happen. We shall probably sell eventually...

 

[JtB]

Sorry to hear about your problems, but you can't really blame the country. Its the same here with too many developers building houses on natural floodplains where they really aught not to.

 

[Aperitif]

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]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiOK_bF0saA[/media]


Not much help - I know. Sad situations, nay tragic ones, at every turn for some at the moment. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, yourself, the poor bloke on a cycle who got killed outside Northolt Airbase two nights ago as he finished his duty. I hope all goes well and that you can relax a bit.