We moved to Spain as we wanted to give our young daughter a better quality of life

Debbie Boyle-Thomas runs the La Montañuela bar/restaurant in the La Tosquilla valley, Jumilla, with husband Tim. They live there with their son Grant, daughter Connie and Debbies Dad, Bob, who decided to leave the UK and come to live with the family in Spain.

Five years ago, Debbie and husband Tim paid a visit to Spain as part of a consortium investing in land for a new development of houses - the residencial La Tosquilla development situated at the foothills of the Sierra de la Pila nature reserve in the La Tosquilla valley in Jumilla. As soon as Debbie and Tim saw the area they fell in love with it straight away and knew that this was where they wanted to settle and start a new life.

The main thrust behind their move over to Spain was to give their young daughter, Connie, a better quality of life."I just had to get her out of the East End of London" says Debbie. “Things are so different over here to the UK. Life for children is very good – there’s no stigma, no having to keep up with everyone. I don’t have to go rushing out to buy Connie the latest pair of expensive trainers because her friends have got them. It’s not like that here. We just love the relaxed way of life here in rural Spain. It’s just so laid back – and of course the weather is a big bonus – and the views are just brilliant. Life here is just great for everyone. Connie confims this - “it’s great for kids” she says “for biking, quad biking, walking, for fresh air and exercise…”

Debbie and Tim also invested money in a bar/restaurant that stands in the middle of the land aquired for the new development. They have been running the business for 19 months now. Debbie and Grant speak fluent Spanish. Debbie learnt from working with Spanish people many years ago when they lived in Torrevieja – this was when Torrrevieja was inhabited by only Spanish and before the English descended there. Grant went to Spanish school and learnt the language there. Connie attends a Spanish school in Jumilla, she is the only English pupil in the school. She is doing really well with her Spanish and is very fluent – she chats happily away to the Spanish customers who come in to the bar. Tim is currently learning Spanish and is picking up quite a bit – through Connie, Debbie and Grant and through talking to the customers.

And as for Debbies Dad, well he’s been given a new lease of life since moving over to Spain. His health is so much better than when he was in the UK. And he certainly seems to be settled into his new life and enjoying himself and he helps Tim and Debbie in the bar, too.

And Grant is doing very well for himself too. He works as a moto cycle mechanic for Intruder, a Spanish company in Murcia city. A motor cycle enthusiasts he also does voluntary work for MOTOR GP, goes to all the meetings at circuits all over Spain and gets to meet famous people like Casey Stoner.