I honestly dont think it has anything to do with living in the countryside, we have a large town house in a village and have lived here now for over three and a half years. I think it is just an English "thing" with the flies, as most Spanish people i know have just learned to live with them.

I have a lovely outdoor patio area of over 90 m2, which is pretty rare in a traditional old stone village house, but to be honest, have only used it for a BBQ twice during the whole Summer because of the flies.

I could never understand why most villages looked deserted and not lived in when i first came to live here..............but now i know why!

The blinds are down permanently, not only to keep out the heat, but more likely to keep out the flies.

My elderly parents returned to the UK yesterday, and could not believe that we are still bombarded with flies in November. It was a family joke in the Summer when my Father used to take the fly swatter down to the local swimming pool, just so he could keep the "buggers" from going in his beer glass, or swarming around his feet.

Before next Summer, i am going to have a huge netted area constructed over the patio, then maybe we can enjoy eating "al fresco".

Jools