Finally making the move to Spain was one of the best decisions ever.

When they decided to buy a property in Spain, Elaine & Alan only ever intended it to be a retreat for summer holidays. But with the pressures of professional jobs, the appalling British weather and high cost of UK living, a permanent life in Spain soon became more and more appealing.

It all began in the year 2000 when we we joined an organized viewing trip to the Costa Blanca. We'd been toying with the idea of buying a property in Spain for a number of years, but like many others in this situation, had put up so many barriers that we never actually got around to doing anything about it - I suppose that we were a bit afraid of our own shadows.But in those years of waiting we had seen property prices rise dramatically.

As we reached our 40's, we came to the point where we thought that we really should do something about it. So we booked onto an Inspection Visit to the Costa Blanca (we knew nothing about the area at all.In fact, the first time we had heard about it was when we went to the property exhibition).

We spent the first few days of the Inspection Visit being shown around many different developments and different areas on the Costa Blanca, but was getting nowhere. On the last day of our visit, we said to ourselves "Look, if we go home without buying anything, we could end up in the same boat again - spending another 10 years thinking about things! And besides, prices will only continue to go up and up and we could actually price ourselves out of the property market - so we might as well buy something while we're here."

So on the last day of our visit we put down a deposit on a beautiful apartment, just a 10 minute walk away from the beach - an ideal location for those summer retreats we had dreamed about for so long.

We had to use some imagination then, as the property was bought "off-plan" and all we had to go on was a visit to the site where we were presented with a bare strip of land, and plans of the proposed development. The property was due to be completed eighteen months later

Back in the UK, as the months passed by, due to the long hours and stresses of our professional careers, coupled with the appalling British weather and increasingly high cost of living, the prospect of a more permanent life in Spain became more and more appealing.

Two years from that first visit and near to the completion of our property, we decided to sell up in the UK and move lock, stock and barrel to Spain.

The move wasn't easy - I'd be kidding myself if I said it was.We are a close family and just before leaving (after making all the plans) we found out that we were expecting our first grandchild. I wondered if I'd ever settle being parted from the family - and especially with the new addition on the way. But I needn't have worried. As Spain is only a 2 hour flight away we make regular trips back home and the family make frequent visits, too -and we have a very close relationship with our granddaughter - in fact, I'd say that being apart strengthens the relationships.

As the holiday apartment was never intended to be a permanent home, we decided to look for a more suitable property that would become our new home. The coast is fine for holidays, but would never have suited us as a permanent place - too many British, crowded beaches, jammed up roads and little opportunity to practice our Spanish.This just wasn't what we wanted.We like the countryside and so decided to look further inland. After months of searching, we discovered the beautiful inland region of Murcia and instantly knew that this was where we wanted to settle down.

Living in the countryside is very different to life on the coast. A beautiful valley location with lovely mountain views - waking up every morning to the views of pine clad mountains is a real tonic! The pace of life here is very relaxed and everything really is "manana. The people are very friendly and helpful and we get the opportunity to practice our Spanish.

So was it worth making the move from the UK to Spain and then from the coast to the countryside - you bet! We have no regrets on this one - just wish we'd done it years ago!