Name: Timothy Dill-Russell
Nationality: British
City of Residence: Puerto de Santa Maria
Date of Birth: 26 October 1937
Civil Status: Married.
Occupation: International Illusionist & Escape Artist.
Reason for moving to Spain: In one word... LOVE. My parents retired to Marbella in 1965 so I naturally made frequent visits to see them. My work took me all over the world and in Europe I travelled with my caravan.

I met Jesus, a superb young chef in Puerto de Santa Maria in 1979, fell in love and lived together since1985.

In 1989 we bought our first small house in Puerto (105 different patterned tiles in the kitchen) where we made our home with our two Samoyed dogs. Jesus continued working in Puerto while I continued touring… “two months away and one month at home.”

Finally in 2005, Spain made our dreams come true. We were married in June 2006 and went honeymooning in Cuba and at the North Pole.

Tim's partner - Jesus, and one of their dogs in front of their house.

What was your first impression of Spain?
That is a difficult question to answer because my first visit was over 50 years ago. It was a safe and beautiful country and at the time I arrived there was no drug problem and delinquency was practically non-existent.

For a Spaniard to get involved in a bar confrontation – it was a family disgrace for his name to appear in the paper, probably why they now use initials when reporting crimes!

I remember the Spanish serenos (night watchmen) in Madrid who held the keys to all the apartment and hostal buildings, and upon hearing you clap your hands arrived within seconds to let you into your home or hostel for a tip of 2-3 pesetas. What secrets they must have held?

Overall, it was a country where you never needed to lock your car, everyone was sociable and friendly, but not as prosperous as it is today.

I remember the evening paseo when the boys circled the plaza in one direction and the girls in the other, usually in groups of three or more, hoping to meet the boy or girl of their dreams, and all the widows wore black.

What do you think of Spanish food?

Wonderful and varied. Being married to a chef I get to enjoy not only their wonderful gazpacho soup in the summer, but also paellas with their many different ingredients, menudo, kidneys in sherry, a whole variety of fresh fish, wonderful roasts of lamb and suckling pig, and the many varied specialities from all the regions of Spain.

What do you think of Spanish fashion sense?
The younger generation is certainly cool and abreast of development here and overall, the older Spanish seem well dressed and with it in the cities, towns and villages.

What do you think of the shopping in Spain?
Shopping is really very similar around the world today. The local markets still abound in spite of the international supermarket chains and the latest electronic and household goods are to be found, all at reasonable prices.

There are also many small boutiques with designer label clothes at one end of the scale and the local weekly gipsy market at the other as well as the family run businesses. Something for everyone and in general helpful staff.

What do you appreciate about living in Spain?
Where I live, especially the weather. Spain is still marginally cheaper than most of the rest of Europe and the life is more relaxed than many European countries, the people are friendly and really enjoy life.

While the German seems to live in order to work, the Spaniard works in order to live, hence the many fiestas and ferias. You almost never see a drunken Spaniard. The drunks are usually English lager louts on holiday.

What do you find most frustrating about living in Spain?
The difficulty of dealing with more than one meeting in the morning or afternoon, as many professional people still do not make fixed time appointments, and official bureaucracy since it is rare to be informed about all the papers you will need to bring on your second visit usually requiring a third.

What puzzles you about Spanish culture and what do you miss since you’ve moved here?
Nothing puzzles me about Spanish culture as I have always accepted different countries for what they are.

One should always try and reverse a question of this sort and ask what puzzles you about your own culture?

Different cultures do things in different ways because they are different cultures, and this is what makes life interesting.

Frankly it would be difficult today to say what I miss having been here for so long. Perhaps, the West End theatre in London, but then it is so easy to visit for 48 hours with Easy Jet or Ryanair, or one can always take a trip to a Madrid theatre if you speak the language.

How does the quality of life in Spain compare to the quality of life in other countries that you’ve lived in?
Another difficult question if you have travelled as much as myself. So much depends on the individual and his or her interests and individual attitude. Medical care is certainly as good as and better now than in England.

But having worked and lived in so many countries around the world, every country has its good and bad points. Given the wonderful weather, Spain boasts of practically everything from skiing to swimming, surfing, riding and equestrian events, tennis and golf to name just a few outdoor activities. Then there are pop concerts, classical music, and fashion shows, in addition to flamenco, not to mention the bull fights if they appeal.

Quality of life in general is good and Spain scores well on this.

If you could change anything about Spain, what would it be?
To be honest I wouldn’t change anything. If I did Spain would no longer be Spain. As their government tourist office used to say: “Spain is different”.

If pushed I would suggest cutting down the noise; many televisions in many bars and restaurants make ordinary conversation quite a challenge, and better civic responsibility where rubbish is concerned would be appreciated.

What advice would you give to a newcomer?
Learn the language as soon as possible. Mix with the Spanish and try and forget about the way you did things in England, America, France or wherever you came from. Get away from ‘expat’ communities as much as possible and immerse yourself in the life of the Spanish.

Then if you do not like it, go home and stop complaining, nobody asked you to come here. Too many expats are always grumbling.

14 April 2009

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