Spanish Practices – Living in Spain: Real Life, Real Spain
Living in Spain: real life, real stories, and real misadventures. After swapping a grand Victorian house in leafy Essex for a tiny flat in a wild Andalusian village, we've spent the last ten years navigating the joys, shocks and absurdities of life in Spain. I'm a former London radio producer (not a very good one). I once sacked Richard Hammond for not knowing enough about cars, was spectacularly rude to J.K. Rowling and threw away her early children's book, and told the man behind Amazon UK that nobody would ever buy books online. Then I ran away to Spain with my other half and our big ginger cat. This podcast explores expat life in Spain, Andalusian culture, Spanish traditions, village life, language mishaps, bureaucracy, food, fiestas, and what really happens when the holiday fantasy wears off. Along the way, there are tales from my radio days, occasional celebrity encounters, and reflections on starting again in midlife. Honest, funny, occasionally surreal — this is real life in Spain, with some events lightly fictionalised to protect the innocent (and the guilty).
Episodes
What did the Romans ever do for Almuñécar?
Apart from inventing takeaway food, apartment living, public baths, complaining about politicians… and making the entire town smell like fermented fish.
In this episode of Spanish Practices, we travel back to Ro...
Spain welcomed a record 97 million tourists — and now the country is bursting at the seams.
In this episode, we look at failing infrastructure, overcrowded cities, and why Spain might need a breather in 2026.
Plus: lesser-known regions to visit and better ways to experience Spain beyond beaches, booze, and burnout.
Three Places, mentioned to visit:
Extremadura
A detailed investigation into the Adamuz train crash in Spain, examining what happened, what investigators believe caused the derailment, and the warnings about track defects raised before the tragedy.
I explore the human stories behind the disaster, including the loss of 41 lives and the death of a 27-year-old train driver, and how families and communiti...
This week, we had two power cuts. That led to Bruce our rescue dog getting diarrhea! A biblical lightning strike, a bodged Endesa repair, and one warm fridge too far — welcome to Spanish electrics.
In this wry expat tale, two power cuts lead to a flooded studio, philosophical acceptance, and an unfortunate canine outcome.
Living in Spain teaches resilienc...
A wry, true-to-life look at Spanish plumbing quirks every expat eventually encounters — mysterious drain smells, missing U-bends, and bathrooms with opinions.
From central traps and sewer "breathing" to rain-induced gurgling chaos, this episode explores why Spanish drains work differently.
Packed with humour, cultural insight, and lived expat experience of life in Spain and Andalusia.
Spanish ...
In this episode of Spanish Practices - As we start 2026 Spain faces a demographic crunch. A 2025 forecast says the country needs 2.4 million foreign workers by 2035 to sustain its pension system — just as millions apply for Spanish citizenship under the Grandchildren's Law.
In this episode of Living in Spain, I talk about the choking hazard that is a Spanish Tradition at New Year, drawing on real experiences of expat life in Andalusia after moving from the UK to Spain.
We cover:
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How a Spanish New Year is celebrated, and why twelve grapes play an important part.
In this episode at least two reasons among many why we left our leafy Essex town and beautiful four bedroomed bay-fronted Edwardian House and ran off to sunny Spain.
So to the ghosts two arrive from my past. One is a, to be, famous children's author to whom I was spectacularly rude, after which I threw away the first edition of her book about a boy who didn't know he was a wizard.
The other i...
Is the new and mandatory in Spain from the start of 2026, Beacon a Beacon of safety or a silly dim flashing light that tracks your car to the Government?
Yes its the controversial V16 Beacon that we have all had to buy, or rather try to buy, amongst the Temu rip offs that aren't a certified beacon. Is it a major step forward in road safety.. Let's find out.
In this episode I am talking about Christmas.
I'm going to look at British Christmas versus Spanish Christmas, and then zoom out to see where Spain quietly shares traditions with the rest of the world… often in surprising ways.
So pop the kettle on, pour a glass of Spanish sherry — depending on which country you emotionally identify with today — and let's dive in.
In this short episode a clear, realistic, non-salesy view of where the smart money is going in Spain in 2025–2030—and whether property is still the best bet.
I am not a Financial Expert, do not take this episode as any kind of financial advice. I have collated together trends and data from financial institutions, banks and financial companies.
Spain's GDP grew by 3.5% in 2024 and is forecasted to grow by 2.9% in 2025.
The growth is being driven by strong domestic demand, particularly household consumption and investment, which is outpacing the euro area.
Is this the time to invest in Spain?
From Mosiquitos to spiders and snakes, there is something lurking or flying around here in Spain that has you on their lunch menu.
How to cope with those tiny assassins and avoid being bitten or worse is what this episode is all about.
This is our real life, in real Spain. Ten years of adventures since swapping our glorious Victorian House in leafy Essex for a tiny flat in a wild Andalusian village. I was ...
If you've ever stubbed your toe in Spain, you'll know that the locals don't just swear — they stage a one-man opera of profanity. Spanish swearing is a glorious symphony of blasphemy, body parts, and creative bowel movements.
There are a lot of rude words in the episode so please, if you are easily offended, scroll on to the next episode.
Franco was responsible for the "Spanish Miracle," in a recent survey 21 % of Spaniards said that the years of Francisco Franco's rule - 1939 to 1975 were "good" or "very good."
Is Spain yearning to return to a time when one person possesses absolute power here in this country?
Real Life - Real Spain
What kind and how many people are living under the wire, classed as "irregular" without paperwork living here in Spain.
How does Spain treat the nomads, the minorities and the people who come here without any money or housing?
This is our real life, in real Spain. Ten years of adventures since swapping our glorious Victorian House in leafy Essex for a tiny flat in a wild Andalusian village. I was once a Ra...
It was April the 28th and suddenly the lights went out, the fridge and freezer went silent and what followed was eight hours of chaos as a historic Blackout Cripples Spain and Portugal.
BUT What is the shocking truth behind a power cut, it was Europe's Worst Blackout in 20 Years and plunged Barcelona, Lisbon, Madrid, Porto and Seville into darkness?
This is our real life, in real Spain. Ten years of adven...
Do you really need to speak Spanish in Spain? Can you get by with a few words, Google Translate and waving your hands around.
And which company was voted worst Company of the Year in Spain in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016?
This is our real life, in real Spain. Ten years of adventures since swapping our glorious Victorian House in leafy Essex for a tiny flat in a wild Andalusian village. I was once...
Many move to Spain chasing a healthier, freer life under the sun—but does it really happen? What are the true keys to living longer, better here?
Also my glorious failure as a radio producer—paired with the legendary Pete Murray, who somehow survived my on-air blunders (though only just!)
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