Costa Women Blogs

Life is pleasant.  Death is peaceful.  It’s the transaction that’s troublesome. –          Isaac Asimov In today’s world we are all striving for Financial Safety, Security and Savings, however it is a sad fact that there are only two certainties in life – Death and Taxes – both of which can be expensive if not dealt with properly. An IBERIAN FUNERAL PLAN will take care for the provision of life’s final event: Safety – We are the only Spanish S.L. registered Funeral Planning Company.  We specialise in Funeral Plans for the English speaking community, nothing else.   You are guaranteed acceptance whatever your age, plus the plan will always be in effect, however long you live. Security – If you decide to pay in Euro your money stays in Spain with BBVA/Santander.  If you pay in GBP it is deposited with HSBC in the UK.   All plans are legally registered with the Ministry of Economics.   Our Terms and Conditions are just that – legal and binding.  They are not a statement allowing us to do what we want, when we want and charge you extra for the pleasure. Savings – Iberian plans are fixed cost; the price advertised is the price you will pay.  There are no hidden extras.  Should you wish to pay by instalments we offer terms of up to 5 years, totally interest free.   You also have the option to pay in Euro or GBP (Sterling).   Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go. – Jean de la Fontaine   Iberian plans are competitively priced and fully comprehensive.  We provide a complete “beginning to end” service and are with you all the way.    Our plans provide a healthy saving when compared to the current national average funeral cost of €4000 + IVA – which is a further €840 – WHY – because our plans are IVA (VAT) Exempt.   Contracts are in place with National and International Funeral directors assuring that your plan is registered from day 1.  We operate a 24 hour bereavement helpline number so you will always be in contact with a professional who knows your exact requirements. Thinking of returning to the U.K or any other part of Europe, then your plan can go with you; it is as easy as that! We are not a one man band, nor an agent of a UK Company, nor a UK Company operating a Trust Fund.  A pension fund is written in Trust, a life insurance policy is written in Trust – and we have all heard about the “Black Holes” in Pension Schemes and the loss in value of personal pensions.  Trust funds are not a legal accounting entity in Spain and are only a marketing ploy.   So in summary if you want to deal with an ethical, legal, caring company with regards to making provisions for life’s final event then IBERIAN should be your first choice. No fuss, no hassle and no pressure ………..   We all have to die some day, if we live long enough. –          Dave Farber     With locations throughout Spain, Portugal and the UK, you can feel safe and secure with an   IBERIAN FUNERAL PLAN   THE PEACE OF MIND COMPANY WITH PRICES STARTING FROM €3390   Phone 952 595 691/ 952490690/951203994 Or visit our website www.iberianfuneralplans.com For all locations, information and pricing.   Reg/CIF – Iberian Funeral Plans LDA 510037275 Reg/CIF – Iberian Funeral Plans S.L. 11138305/B93156107   Iberian Funeral Plans incorporating SPN Funeral Plans SL and LDA  

This last month has been really heavy for me… I feel the energies have intensified so much these past few weeks, vibrating at a very fast and high frequency…  not only coming from the cosmos but also from the centre of the earth… like hot flames burning away all my yesterdays that no longer support me… my old ways, memories, habits, addictions, patterns etc…  until IAM left with only a peaceful and solid sense of pure love, joy and light…  As I wrote in a recent blog post,  it’s taken a toll on my face.. there is no getting away from it… and it continues to flake, peeling all the layers of yesterday off…  I feel like a snake shredding its skin.. going into another phase in life...  So I do know it’s important for me to stay relaxed and peaceful and focus on healing and balancing my body consciousness. (body, mind and spirit).. Last friday/saturday i ‘went into’ drama and started feeling sorry for myself, being the poor me and victim… that nothing works etc…  and what happened… my face followed my thoughts and beliefs and I took a step back in my healing and my face became inflamed again…  It was a way of reminding myself that I was not truly loving myself, not trusting myself to heal and knowing that IAM a magnificent light being in a physical body rebalancing my body consciousness… I knew I had to stay away from outside stress, to drink plenty of water, eat a little of good things I liked and to leave off the wine for a while… So I thank myself for this test, although I failed, I will remember to focus on wholeness, on my truth, on my magnificence… instead of buying into the fear and victimhood…  I know that IAM not the only one going through this great shift of energy… we are all being confronted with our fears and having the chance now to release them and integrate fully with our soul, our IAM presence, our magnificent self…  No-one else can help us, each one of us has our own unique wisdom inside of us to guide us home… guide us to be who we truly are… DivineHuman Beings… It is up to ourself to make sure that our body, mind and spirit is healthy and vibrant so that we can totally care for our self first, our home, our relationship, our family and business…  We have to stand up for ourself, find time to recharge our batteries, write everything down (because everyones memory is being rewired right now) so we remember everything important and make sure that we eat well, drink well and sleep well… We are the one that is responsible for everything in our life, everything that happens… and are the only one who can HELP OURSELF… Know that YOU are made up of LOVE itself…  no more searching… everything is right under your  nose… Now is the time to allow yourself to shine, to sleep, to set boundaries at home and work… to say NO when things don’t work for you at that moment… to take charge of yourself, your life by focusing on creating your desires and be in JOY… Barbara Franken… Inspiring New Energy Consciousness… www.sacredheartsretreat.com 

I was about 27 when my new felt freedom of exploring life and experiencing what I liked and desired in life (of the previous 9 years from when I left the family nest at 18), began to filter into my consciousness…  I became aware of deep feelings inside of me, awakening a new sense of BEING… and life has continued to prompt me with signs, people and a knowingness that has guided my choosing and experiencing of my life in the NOW moment… It has been a gradual unfolding of ‘all of me’.. as I have experienced, felt and responded to the last 26 years of my life and my part in it all…  Nearly 27 years of a most loving relationship with myself… a gradual ‘falling in love’ with myself, Barbara… a HumanBeing integrating and becoming one with my DivineBeing… IAM… all that is… The rose that I was given last sunday on Mothers Day in Spain, stands tall and in full bloom in my home and continues to grow infinitely… The beautiful infinite rose reflects my inner self… it was a gift and message of love from my divine inner guidance, that has guided me to this moment… and realisation… that all is well… and in just a few more months.. after ‘tying up a few loose ends’, I will begin a new phase of life… YES… I am graduating with honours, with a distinct attitude and passion to live ‘my next 27 years’… I don’t think it has been any coincidence that my favourite subject at school was mathematics, my greatest wonderment and joy was studying numerology… the 9 times table is the centre of my knowing, my favourite number is 3, my family home was 60 and 33, number 9 is the end of a cycle and my 27 years breaks down to 9 and 3 … 3 is a prime number, equal to fibonacci (the harmony of prime numbers) and is found in Earth’s nature, our body and in the sky…         In a new awareness everything comes together… 

  I REMEMBER feeling you for the first time, so soft and cuddly and feeling a sense of belonging… I REMEMBER blowing out my first birthday candle, making a mess and bouncing in an indoor chair… I REMEMBER playing with my sister outdoors and in our conservatory watching the caterpillars, chrysalis and butterflies transform in jam-jars… I REMEMBER taking care of our pet guinea-pig, rabbit and cat and the pony who still remains in my imagination… I REMEMBER hearing the piano played, the fingers so fluent on the keys and my music lessons on the guitar… I REMEMBER playing with my friends in the park and digging our garden with my dad and sister… I REMEMBER trips to my grandparents in the country and in the town celebrating family birthdays, weddings and christmas.. I REMEMBER the inner joy I always felt at christmas time, santa’s sherry and mince pie, made possible by you and dad’s love and excitement… I REMEMBER us going away on holidays, riding donkeys, making sandcastles and running on the beach and into the sea… I REMEMBER watching you wash the clothes and dishes, cleaning the house and you teaching me to iron… I REMEMBER loving to watch films with my dad and sister and crackerjack at 5 to 5… I REMEMBER your love for flowers, the smell of your roses and admiring your green fingers… I REMEMBER feeling rebellious, a sense of conflict between me and the outside world and being called mary-mary-quite-contrary… I REMEMBER finding it hard to breathe for a while and feeling an inner urge to explore, find freedom and who I truly was… I REMEMBER you letting me go… to begin my adventure alone, my wings expanded in confidence, I took off to discover beyond… The sprinkle of your love and joy has grown so big within me, flowing overand becoming one with my own love of self…Your nurturing is my nurturing, your love is my love, your joy is my joy,you are and IAM one…Each morning I awake in a bundle of love, have a sense of joy andexcitement and arise to create another best moment exploring all that is…I turn my head around and feel your embrace, I gently kiss youon the cheek and silently thank you for being you… LOVE IS INFINITE… YOU AND ME… I LOVE YOU  Your loving daughter Barbara xxx Not only for Mothers Day 2013 but for every day…  

New rules were announced this week… which affect those of us that live in Spain, but are British Nationals. We no longer apply for our passports via the office in Madrid. Now all applications need to go via Belfast. Press release: 7 May 2013 CHANGE TO PASSPORT SERVICE FOR BRITISH NATIONALS British nationals in Spain wanting to apply for a new passport are advised of an important change in the way they will need to make applications. From Monday 13 May, all applications will need to be sent directly to the Identity & Passport Service (IPS) in Belfast in the United Kingdom, instead of the regional passport processing hub in Madrid. All the necessary information about the new passport application process, including a new IPS overseas application form, can be found at www.gov.uk/overseas-passports. Andy Hamilton, head of the regional passport processing centre in Madrid, says: “In real terms, all that this means is that British nationals living in Spain now need to send their applications to a different address.” “Current passport processing times remain the same. If you are renewing your passport, you should allow at least four weeks from the date the fee is taken and all the correct documentation has been received.” “If you are applying for the first time or you are replacing a lost or stolen passport, you should allow at least six weeks.” The only other change is that the current passport helpline call charges are being removed. Instead of paying for a premium rate phone line, customers will now only have to pay for the cost of a call to the UK. British nationals who lack internet access or want advice are able to call the IPS Customer Service Centre on +44 (0) 300 222 0000. People who need to travel urgently but whose normal passport is unavailable should contact their nearest British Consulate via 902 109 356 or email info.consulate@fco.gov.uk . Your local Consulate may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document to help you travel. Note: Fees charged for overseas passport applications are based on the cost of providing the service. Because the number of overseas applications is smaller and efficiency gains are harder to achieve, the issuing of all British passports is being repatriated. Once this has been completed worldwide in 2014, IPS will seek to more closely align overseas and UK passport fees. This change also applies to British nationals living in Andorra. Content duplicated with permission only for this CostaWomen website from http://www.spainbuddy.com/new-passport-rules-for-uk-nationals-in-spain/

Often our lives are a direct result of that which we believe.  It includes it all, the good, the bad and the really ugly.   Have you stopped to think why some things are not working out as you expected them to be?   Does it seem to you like money comes, and money goes, and sometimes, mostly goes, and keeps on going?   You think you’ve found the perfect mate and before too long, he or she, turns out to be the mate from hell.   Are you frustrated about no matter what you do; things just don’t turn out your way?     This is an indicator that the walk you are walking is a direct result of your beliefs; in other words, you are living what you are believing; and some of those beliefs can be hurting you.  Like “Money is the Root of all Evil!” Ouch!  And you wonder why sometimes you don’t have enough of it!   The way you live today, is directly connected to your beliefs system.  No exceptions!   Therefore, you are what you believe.   The good news is those negative beliefs, or even old beliefs that no longer serve you, can be changed, quicker than you think.   CONSIDER:   Do you have what you want or do you have what you don’t want?  Do you know what to do about having more of what you want and less of what you don’t want?   ¨      Assess what you do have and what you can do to attain it. ¨      Consider how mistaken beliefs can hurt you.  Being in scarcity is no fun for anyone. ¨      Ask:  Is what I have a reflection of me? ¨      Do I have what I really want? ¨      Identify things, people or circumstances that do not please you. ¨      Do you tend to vacillate? ¨      Do you tend to be impulsive? ¨      Do you like to think things through? ¨      Do you follow your instincts? ¨      Do you communicate your needs well? ¨      Do you smile inside but forget to tell your face? ¨      Are you happy?     OPTIONS:   ¨     Shift your focus to that which you do want. ¨     Be as clear as possible with the vision you want to hold and to have. ¨     Evaluate the benefits of having what you want. ¨     Think of what you have to gain by shifting, deleting or completely eliminating negative or mistaken beliefs. ¨     Think how much is costing you in all aspects of your life to live by someone else’s rules and beliefs. ¨     Identify what’s getting in your way. ¨     Remember that if you believe you can, you can. ¨     Understand that expanding your beliefs enriches your life. ¨     Be proud of who you are and not of whom you are not.  This will help you to slowly shift strong, deep-rooted beliefs that no longer serve you. ¨     Align your emotions with your heart’s desires. ¨     You have many options to fully have, be, do, and live what you believe and still serve your greater good.  However, those beliefs better be to serve what’s on behalf of your best interest. ¨     Make it about “what you really want.” ¨     Being in scarcity hurts you. ¨     Being in abundance brings prosperity and happiness.       ACTION PLAN:   ¨      Raise awareness level to the point where you fully understand that you have exactly what you believe you can have. ¨      By assessing your possessions and surroundings, will give you a clue as to what you believe.  ¨      You have what you think you can have. ¨      Create a list of the “wanted,” ¨      Create a list of “unwanted.” ¨      Create a Gratitude List for what you do have, and do not complain about what you don’t have.  The formula is the same for both.  ¨      You complain about not having, you’ll attract more scarcity.  You express gratitude for what you have, you’ll attract more abundance.  It works exactly the same. ¨      Identify its origin.  Ask: How did I get this, or how come I didn’t get this? ¨      Find clarity to the roots of your beliefs system, even if it goes back to your childhood.  In fact, most of them come from parents and grandparents who did the best with what they had, so it gets passed on to the next generation.     ¨      Make a list of things you want to eliminate.  Keep it simple and doable at first.  Hopefully, there won’t be much more to add to it.  One example is to eliminate self-doubt, and embrace self-worth. ¨      When you get rid of one thing, replace with another one.  A mistaken belief needs to be replaced with a positive belief so that you can have exactly more of what you want. ¨      Understand that forgiveness is crucial in this process.  Love and lack of forgiveness cannot live under the same roof. ¨      Build your self-confidence by understanding that the more you focus on what you have, the more of it you will receive. ¨      Look at the commonality among the leaders you know:  Passion, perseverance, purpose, self-confidence, assertiveness, determination, just to name a few.   At the end of your Action Plan Check-list, you will find yourself relieved, relaxed, more comfortable in your own skin, receiving more of the good stuff you want and deserve, and above all, you’ll find yourself basking in the knowledge of believing in yourself.   You can create anything you want by believing your own stories.  Change the story, change the outcome.   Always be grateful.  Gratitude attracts prosperity, which attracts abundance, which in turn brings you joy, fun, love, and happiness.  All you do is change the stories you tell yourself.