This new thread is so refreshing from the normal doom and gloom which so often covers these pages.
We have been here over 9 years and I don't know where that time has gone either.

OK, it's not always plain sailing, but you get over the hurdles as best you can and learn from your mishaps/mistakes etc (hopefully) my 15 year old Son is now more Catalan/Spanish than he is English.

Can honestly say that I don't miss anything English, and if I do, can usually buy it online.

What advise would I give to new comers????????

Have a positive outlook, and try to see the good, even in bad things, as it is quite often a necessary learning curve.

If there is a large ex-pat community where you decide to put down roots, be very selective as to who your 'friends' are, we learnt the hard way on more than one occasion, and most of all, at least get a basic understanding of the language, and you will not go far wrong.

I actually work more here that I did in the UK and I came here for a more comfortable, laid back life style, but it just never happened, but, hand on my heart, I would never change it for the world, and the thought of going back to live in the UK is like a nightmare to me, it's just a no brainer for us.

Jools