A British woman who moved from London to Spain has explained why it is now one of her biggest regrets as she looks to where she’ll move next
A British expat who moved from London to Spain has admitted that the move has become the “biggest regret” of her life. Barbara Collins, 72, moved from London to Granada in the early 2020s, but now says she regrets the decision.
Barbara, a former accountant, said she was drawn in by the hope of more sunshine compared to the grey summers the UK is often known for.
However, the increasing frequency of heatwaves both in the UK and Europe, as well as temperatures regularly soaring to the high thirties and into the early forties, have given Barbara food for thought.
Writing in the i, Barbara, who hopes to move to Portugal in the future, said: “Like many Brits, I was hungry for a place where it would always be warm and seldom rained. I think that’s what often blinds us.
“I always dreamed of living in a Mediterranean country, but I never imagined that my craving for a year-round sunshine spot could one day turn into the biggest regret of my life.”
Barbara explains how she rents her three-bedroom flat in the Alhambra district after falling in love with the city’s culture and relaxed atmosphere. She continued to live there even after the death of her husband six years ago.
Barbara went on to highlight how the wildfires that have been raging through parts of Spain and France have been unnerving and left her questioning whether her home would be affected.
However, even if they don’t hit, Barbara spoke about how the sun is now so hot she feels “trapped” inside her own home and how she doesn’t leave her home during the day.
The wildfires, Barbara says, have now spread to the Granada province, meaning the danger feels “all too real” and that she struggles to sleep at night. So great has the problem become for her that she is planning to look for places to rent in Lisbon, Portugal.
Barbara’s comments come as wildfires continue to ravage Europe and the cost begins to be counted in terms of the damage caused across the continent.
According to the Financial Times, around 1.2million acres were lost in Spain and France in the first two months of what has been described as a “fire season”, with the potential cost rising as high as €3.1bn (£2.66bn) for the worst-hit countries.
However, while European cities have been under threat of wildfires, so too have regions in the UK, with London Fire Brigade warning of the impact of grass fires being sparked. The UK has seen repeated heatwaves this summer and long periods with little to no rainfall, leaving parks parched.
As a result, the London Fire Brigade has issued a warning to Londoners to do what they can to reduce the risk of a fire starting after they received thousands of calls earlier this month.
In a statement, Assistant Commissioner for Operational Resilience and Control Patrick Goulbourne said: “In these dry conditions, it only takes a spark to start a grass fire and they can spread rapidly, quickly threatening homes, workplaces, infrastructure and the environment.
“If you’re heading to a park or open space to enjoy the sunshine, please don’t take a disposable barbecue with you.
“Even after they have been extinguished, they can retain heat for many hours and pose a serious fire risk. Please also dispose of smoking materials responsibly and either use the bins provided or take your litter home if there are none available.”
