Spain

We are leaving tonight, finally!

It feels like years since we decided to move from Villa De Leyva, our beloved mountain village in Colombia, to Spain. It seemed like a good idea at the time: closer to my kids, no change in language for my partner Greys and her 12 year old daughter Vanessa, a pleasant climate, and a good time to buy a house there.

What followed was eight and a half months of applying and being turned down for the necessary passports and visas for

Greys, Vanessa, and Salomé, our one year old baby. There was always something that was missing for a successful application. “From Colombia” always seemed to be the biggest problem.

Colonia Tovar

So, we moved to Venezuela and tried again from there. Greys, Salomé and I eventually made it to the UK about two months ago, and Salomé has just been given her Dutch passport. Vanessa is still in Venezuela, waiting for her Venezuelan passport, which she will hopefully get in 2 weeks.

It sometimes feels like our lives were put on hold for that time. We haven’t had a proper home for 5 months now, always on the move from one place to the next, staying wherever we could. Of course we had our adventures too.

Like the month we spent in Colonia Tovar, a quaint little mountain village in Venezuela, created by the Germans. It was surreal to suddenly find ourselves in a piece of German, including wood frame houses and delicious German food.

Salomé always being the star attraction

Or the nights we stayed at the 3 bedroom apartment of Greys’ family in Turmero. I worked out later that there had been 15 of us sleeping in that apartment, but somehow it didn’t feel crowded. They seemed delighted to have us, with Salomé always being the star attraction.

"Salomé with Jane, my ex, and her partner Al"

We spent te past 5 weeks staying with Jane, my ex, and her partner Al in Skelmersdale, sleeping up in the loft. I was a little worried that it might be a little ‘awkward’, but in fact, it was a wonderful way for Greys and Salome to become ‘part of the family’, and it meant lots of wonderful time with my English kids. Again, Salome stole the show with everyone.

But with all the heart-warming experiences, we hadn’t really had anywhere to call home all that time, nor did I have anywhere to set up my music equipment. I did my translations wherever I could find a little piece and quiet.

So to say that we are looking forward to finally finding a home for ourselves again would be an understatement. When we get on that plane to Alicante tonight, it will be the start of a new era, one we have been planning for a long time. We are looking for a home in an idyllic mountain village, maybe beside a little brook. It will have space for me to set up a simple music studio, and it will have a kitchen where Greys can cook her wonderful food.

Most importantly, it will have a terrace or a large balcony looking out towards the sea, where my kids and family and friends from all over the world can join us to watch the sun set in the warm evening air.