Our Man in The Costas.

Interesting TV series on channel 4 - This Thursday the 2nd Episode is :

Our Man in.....The Costas - Channel 4 - Thursday 8th March - 10pm (UK time)

The Empire may be long gone, but around the world there are still 500 British consulates. In this new series they've have opened their doors to TV cameras for the first time, giving unique access to the consulates in some of Spain's busiest resorts.
From the expat paradise of the Costa Blanca and Benidorm, to Barcelona, Tenerife, Mallorca, and the party island of Ibiza. Under pressure and under fire, consulate staff are the thin red, white and blue line that lies between Brits in trouble and Brits in even more trouble.
In "Our Man in The Costas", the second episode in the series: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/our-man-in/episode-guide/series-1/episode-2
A forest fire threatens the expats on The Costas, a woman is knocked over and killed by a lorry, and 15,000 Scottish football fans arrive for a game against Spain.
Also Consul Paul Rodwell is given a hard time by expats angry about having their properties threatened with demolition.

Hi Jan,
I watched the first half and it was very interesting. Then I dropped off to sleep. I'll try and catch up.

It's worth watching. It was interesting where the Benidorm consular goes to an Iceland store to talk to British expats. One man complained about something to the consular guy, and then, as he walked away, he said that he, quote... " Wouldn't go back to Britain though, as it's full of bloody foreigners". What did he think we are classed as by the Spanish, and the Iceland store was full of them?

I agree Jan, and thats what really annoys me and makes me ashamed about many Brits who live in Spain.
When they talk about UK they say that there are "too many foreigners, who cannot be bothered to learn our language, form their own close knit communities, take over the shops and take jobs away from the locals".
Sound familiar ?
Rob

Yes Rob, it is a shame. Although there are some Expats who do integrate, as best they can, into the Spanish way of life, it seems that they are in the minority. I suppose it's too easy living in an area where most of the Spanish speak English and then they either build Supermarkets for the Brits (ie Iceland) or stock British supplies. As the Spanish Consular remarked, there are Spanish equivalents to all the UK Items sold in the Supermarkets and they are cheaper. Also, in my opinion, they are often better too!

We love the local Spanish supermarkets like Mercadona and Masy-Mas

The Consum is also a Spanish supermarket, it has only stocked some UK products to demand in the last few years but it still has a Spanish vibe and good Spanish products.

Yes I forgot that one!

I use that very Spanish Lidl

We use Lidl for vegetables, fruit, milk and most of the other staples.Their baguettes are really good and not jaw breakers. But I think they're a German company. We never think to use them at home, we'll try soon we're going back to blighty for Easter.