Costa Women Blogs

The ability to bounce back from anything, support the community and write poems is what has kept Tricia Gabbitas going through the last year.  Read her story     Why Spain? After spending a few months each year in Majorca we decided to try mainland Spain, discovering Torre del Mar by accident during a free coach trip from Nerja. We loved the place, started visiting each winter and eventually decided to settle there. Why Spain? The climate, the people, the food.   Where are you based? Torre del Mar. Still Spanish but with good non-Spanish contacts if needed. Lovely people. Not expensive!   What was the biggest challenge for your move and how did you overcome it? The language! I started years ago making up my own list of much-used words then attended conversation classes at a local centre for a short time. My grammar still not that good but I can converse freely with my Spanish friends.   How do you spend your days here? I’m as busy now as when I was working, always having a craft project on the go. I’m blessed to be multi-talented, having mastered 28 different crafts – photos of lots of them on my Facebook page.   Here’s some of my craft projects… Pressed Flower Picture I created   Completed Three-tier Basket   Knitted/Crochet Jacket   I’ve written and recorded a CD of 20 Gospel songs that you can hear on YouTube. Since writing my first poem at school I’ve written almost a thousand and a few years ago I put them into a series of 4 books along with a book of short stories and another of holiday anecdotes, co-written with my husband. Together with my autobiography they are all available on Amazon. One thing I enjoyed with my Christian poems was putting them onto small decorated cards and giving them to hospices, hospitals and also to anyone they could help. Since we came to Spain my husband and I have made a point of being available to help anyone – with anything!   Something you are grateful for in these Covid days? I am truly grateful to be healthy and have the support of my wonderful husband. We felt so blessed with our good fortune we simply decided to help anyone we could, in any way that we could, and since then we have made a point of doing just that.   We tend to be the first point of call for everyone who knows us when help/advice/research is needed.  Experience has proved how true the saying is “what goes around, comes around”.     If you arranged a dinner party with your favourite people who would you invite?   Close friends and family, Neale Donald Walsch, Albert Einstein, Pam Grout, Jesus, Bradley Walsh, Elvis!   What is your secret weapon or accomplishment? Optimism and knowing that I Receive what I Believe. The ability and willingness to look at both sides of an issue. Innate ability to bounce back from anything   One thing you had to bring with you to Spain and could never give away and why? An art-deco table lamp. It was a gift from a very dear old friend who passed away many years ago now. It has a mirrored base and the shade has pressed flowers on it, one of my favourite crafts.   Favourite Childhood Book? The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. It was a Sunday school prize and the first book I ever owned. The story took me to wonderful exciting new lands, far away from my life of poverty at that time.   The one thing you are most looking forward to when restrictions are relaxed? Being able to visit family and meet up with friends again   Something you would tell your younger self? Whatever you do will be right at the time so trust your inner self and have no regrets.   Where can we find out more? My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.gabbitas/   Thank you Tricia!   Do you want to tell us your Story?  Complete the online form here

With the property market being so unpredictable as people cannot get here to view. I have been exploring other ways to make money online. I have come across this free course in Affiliate Marketing from Wealthy Affiliate. https://bit.ly/3sS6zGH It seems that we can resell absolutely anything from Ebay, Amazon, Nike, Adidas and pretty much any other company by just recomending them via a link and if people buy we get a commision. As I have above . (Though this is free.)  This is a fabulous community of like minded people setting up online. I have joined and followed the process and now have a new website blog coming along that I hope to share with everyone very soon.  You need to choose a niche market that you enjoy and then provide value to other people. I have chosen health and fitness over 50 and I am going to share my journey. I have called it The best version of Yourself. I am not sure what I am going to sell just yet but that will come as I build my site and give value. If you are looking for a niche business to work online from home I recommend starting here on this course it is very interesting and as I said before free to sign up. If you later want to join premium thats up to you but there are 2 courses here for free and you can ask the community for help with anything. Click this link to sign up https://bit.ly/3sS6zGH Nothing to lose and It is very interesting! If you do join at a later date I will get a commission. But I am enjoying sharing the content anyway. 

Meet laugher loving Nancy Benn who ended up in Spain by accident and has decided to stay!   Why did you choose Spain? Short answer, I didn’t! Hubby & I wanted to travel & explore Southern Europe, but we needed to change our UK registered car & decided to buy a LHD in Spain. Then various circumstances (Brexit, a health issue, then the pandemic) necessitated staying put in one place & fortunately, we love the place we ended-up!   Where are you based and why should we live there too? I’m based in Oliva, Valencia on the Costa Blanca, north of the main expat areas extending from Torrevieja to Javea. It’s a working town (with a beach area 3km from the centre) so there’s always activity in both the old town (of white-washed houses in narrow cobbled streets) & along the 1.5km Paseo in the new centre. Oliva has more than 10km of expansive soft golden sand beaches & dunes, but the cliffs & coves south of Javea are less than an hours drive away. Alicante & Valencia cities & airports can be reached in about an hours drive along the motorway. The area is green with citrus groves &, just inland, there are mountains, caves, rivers, lakes & forests. Oliva has a thermal spring & pool too, la Font Salada.     What was the biggest challenge for your move and how did you overcome it? Deciding what to bring in the car & ensuring that I could work uninterrupted online. We left items behind a number of times in a number of places, but managed without & didn’t miss these possessions. After exploring options to get online (satellite connections & mobile packages), I discovered that Spain has good wifi connectivity in all short-term rental homes & it’s also easy to obtain a broadband contract.   How do you spend your days? I’ve been a Virtual Assistant since 2010 so the majority of my week-days are spent working from my home-office supporting clients online. I’m the current volunteer secretary of the Oliva U3A & also leader of the Zumba group. Living so close to the beach, out of season I walk my dogs for miles along the sand & in the summer, I enjoy daily swims in the sea. I brought my trusty sewing machine with me so love to spend time dress-making, mending & sewing soft furnishing for my home. We have a ping-pong table & pool table so hubby & I enjoy games together. Pre-lockdown, we treated each weekend as a mini-holiday, getting out & about exploring the area & we socialised with friends more than we ever did in the UK!     Something you have achieved in during the Pandemic I am grateful that we settled in Oliva pre-pandemic & moved to a house by the beach on Spanish lockdown day 2020. The location did make it much easier to cope with lockdown. I’m fortunate that my day-to-day routine didn’t really alter during the pandemic as I was already experienced at working from home, so this continued unaffected.   You are organising a dinner party – who would you invite and why? I’d invite UK comedians so we could have a laugh & my favourites are: Stephen Fry, Adam Hills, Sean Lock, Bill Baily, Micky Flanagan, Sandi Toksvig, Susan Calman, Sarah Millican, Aisling Bea & Victoria Wood   What is your secret weapon? Being organised, keeping my clients on track with their goals & negotiating all the admin, paperwork & officialdom necessary for moving to & living in another country.   One thing you HAD to bring to Spain with you? My sewing machine as I sew to relax.     Favourite Childhood Book? Narnia box-set as I love to be lost in fantasy stories of other lands & read these over & over as a child.   One thing you are most looking forward to when restrictions are lifted? Seeing my family as I’m hoping my adult children will be able to come for a much needed holiday.   Something you would say to your younger self? Be confident & determined; remain independent & don’t get married too young!   Where can we connect with you Nancy? www.nancybenn.com / Insta & personal FB: nancybenn1 / FB Page: nancybennva / Linkedin: nancybenn   Many thanks Nancy – happy sewing!   Do you want to tell us your Story?  Complete the online form here

International Woman’s Day is such a wonderful annual milestone that reminds us always to create and make the most of opportunity for ourselves and others. Throughout my life and career so far, opportunity has always been available. For me there has always been opportunity to get involved with projects, teams and experiences and these have been wonderful ‘top line’ items. Most importantly though, there has been the opportunity to learn, to change, to grow. On IWD, I pledge to always to create opportunity for others but also to continue to appreciate the opportunities that I see on my path and always to be discerning enough to know which opportunities are right and which ones I can let go. There are of course those opportunities that we don’t see as gifts straight away! The events, circumstances and people that we see as more of a challenge than an opportunity. You know what I am talking about! Over the years in my corporate roles, there was always a challenge or two to be faced. Difficult people (bosses), ingrained beliefs, biases, actions and attitudes that I didn’t agree with, intentions that didn’t sit well with me. It would be easy to have a ‘whinge-fest’ about it all but seeing as I am not yet interesting enough to be interviewed by Oprah, then that isn’t going to happen! So, what to do? I have learned that it is very important to tell the story of your life in the way you want it to be heard. Not making it up but seeing the best in it all. I have learned that knowing what we don’t want creates the opportunity to know what we do. I didn’t know that at the time of course, and so, in my early career I spent a fair amount of time railing against circumstances, moaning and complaining that things ‘just shouldn’t be this way’.   Nevertheless, I still got on. I knew that I wanted to be successful, I knew that I wanted to be part of a great team.  I knew that I wanted to help people, I knew I wanted to be part of something good. I wanted to be well qualified and I wanted to keep learning. All of that has been possible for me and I am deeply appreciative. What did I take to the party? The saying goes ‘it takes two to tango’. It’s safe for me to reflect now on what I took to the party which resulted in the experiences that I had. I wanted to be seen as a smart successful woman, I wanted to be acknowledged and approved of, considered and promoted. I also wanted to discover meaning and purpose and how to be creative and at the heart of everything, to be satisfied, happy, appreciative. I wanted to set a good example. I mostly did that. Was I good corporate employee? Mostly!   Knowing what we don’t want and knowing what we do is key. Equally though, it’s critical for women to know that we have the power to choose. We can choose to dwell on the negative or the positive. We can choose to focus on what has gone well or what has gone right. We can choose to change our thoughts; no-one can do this for us. We can choose to change our mind; we can choose to reset and look for different opportunities. We can choose what we want to be, do and have every day. The only limitation is in our mind.  When we know that we have the power to think what we want, then the sun comes out and the birds start singing. We are so powerful. In the week of celebrations and reflections around IWD, let’s acknowledge the opportunities that we have in our lives.

HIGH STREET opticians Specsavers Ópticas is committed to ensuring diversity in its workforce and strives to offer flexible working arrangements to encourage women to follow a career in optometry. Out of its nine stores in Spain, four have female store directors, and several have female store managers, with women making up nearly 60% of the overall workforce. For International Women’s Day, the optician is highlighting just a few of its fantastic female team members and celebrating their achievements. Ilona Quadflieg is an optical assistant in the Calpe Store and has worked there for more than seven years. Originally from the Netherlands, she speaks five languages and is passionate about women’s rights including equal pay. She has always supported International Women’s Day and the 25N campaign to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. She says that thanks to strong women through history, so much has already been achieved.   ‘Although there’s still a long way to go, I believe we’re making good progress and will continue to push for equality for myself, my 15-year-old daughter and future generations. I have always attended the 25N events with my daughter since she was born and am proud to now support the initiative as part of my role with Specsavers Ópticas. This year, we collaborated with Calpe Town Hall to show our support for this campaign. As a team where 75% of the staff are women, it’s a cause which is very important to us.’ Fellow optical assistant, Nerea Churiaque Almenara, agrees. ‘Across the world, we must push for equal pay and flexible working conditions for mothers. As a mother of two, I only work 29 hours per week, which enables me to earn an income, while still having time to bring up my children and I work hard to educate and inform my children about equality and set them a good example.’ Sheymae Hansali, optometrist at Specsavers Ópticas Fuengirola feels that optometry is an excellent career choice for working mothers and has definitely seen a positive change in the number of women working in the field. ‘In our Fuengirola store 70% of the staff are female and we also have a female store director. The profession has changed considerably and I’m glad women can play leading roles. At school I always enjoyed maths, physics and biology. I originally wanted to go into medical school but I also knew that a career in optometry will allow me to have a better work-life balance, while working in a field that I am passionate about. ‘Now that I’m a mother, that balance is even more important for me, as I want to continue my career development and also be at home to support my young family. I feel like women can have it all. Although it is difficult, with focus, hard work, determination and a little sacrifice you can achieve what you want. I feel empowered by being a working mother and think that working definitely makes me a better mother and motherhood makes me a better worker. She adds: ‘I’m fortunate to work for Specsavers Ópticas, a company that also values a positive work-life balance. It’s always easier when your company offers support during pregnancy and the transition back to work. Having such understanding directors, who care about its employees’ family life and needs is crucial.’ Optometrist Susana del Barco has worked in the optical industry for more than 20 years, after obtaining her qualification from the University of Alicante. She chose a career in optometry as she felt it offered excellent professional opportunities and wanted to help people look after their vision. She has worked at Specsavers Ópticas in the Guardamar store for the last nine years, under the guidance of female store director Lisa James. She has always felt supported to develop her knowledge and skills and to take on more responsibility throughout her professional career. Nerea Galdos-Little is the store director of Specsavers Ópticas in Marbella, which she opened in 2012. Nerea, originally from San Sebastian in Spain, moved to the UK in 1996 to complete a Masters degree in International Relations, Politics and Law at Sussex University and completed two degrees. After graduating, Nerea started a successful career in banking in the City of London, but decided on a change of career after a decade in the job. It was then she set her sights on becoming a Specsavers store owner in Spain, climbing the ladder until she could become director of her own store and return to Spain. ‘It is gratifying to be able to create jobs in Marbella. The optical industry is a great career choice, as people will always require the services of an optician. While being a female business owner has its own challenges, I have been very happy with the way that I have been received into the Marbella community and how Specsavers as a brand has been accepted and am proud to be setting a positive example to other women as a female business owner.’ Recommendations for women on International Women’s Day These excellent female role models have some great advice for women looking to succeed. Optometrist Susana del Barco from the Guardamar store recommends that women looking to succeed should start by ‘focusing on the goals they want to achieve and be passionate about reaching them’. ‘Then learn and improve your knowledge and skills in any way you can and look for a company who will support you and offer you ongoing training and development to help you to reach those goals.’ Guardamar store director, Lisa James, adds: ‘Be proud to be a woman. Be strong and work harder to be successful, things are improving and more women are rising to positions of power and responsibility. If you want to, don’t let being a woman hold you back.’ Nerea Galdos-Little the Marbella store director says, ‘I’d definitely encourage any women with dreams of owning their own business to be brave and step up to the challenge. It’s definitely worth it!’ Store director Judith Borland from the Fuengirola store agrees, ‘My advice for young women wanting to climb the ladder and become either a manager or director of a business is to seize every opportunity that you can. If you are offered an opportunity to learn more, take it. If you are offered more responsibility, carry this out to the very best of your ability. I can honestly say that I have never been held back by being a woman. Although there have been challenges at times with the demands of having your own business and a young family, I feel that these challenges have been worthwhile and have helped me to fulfil my potential.’ Sheymae Hansali, also from the Fuengirola store, would encourage women to go for it and follow their dreams and not let being a woman, or a mum hold them back. She says that, ‘the recipe for success is to work smart and hard, prioritising what matters to you and focusing on your goals. Don’t give up, make it happen and don’t forget that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.’ There are Specsavers Ópticas stores on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Mallorca. Find your nearest Specsavers Ópticas store at www.specsavers.es

Presentations – check, toiletries – check, passport – check, tickets – check, handouts printed – check, check, check, last-minute things for packing – check, excitement – double check! That was me this time last year in preparation for “Make it Happen 2020”; the 8th year of 1230 The Women’s Company in collaboration with partner in crime Ali Meehan, owner of Costa Women. If you were booked in for last year’s MiH you’ll know that as my plane touched down at Malaga airport my mobile pinged with a text from Ali – “Phone me when you land”. That was the Wednesday prior to Spain’s lockdown on the Saturday. MiH was scheduled for the 3 days inbetween – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  That was that then! Come on…. you really didn’t think we’d let you down and you know we didn’t. Ali’s apartment was converted to film studio and office and within 12 hours we’d turned the whole 3 days around to an online event. Everyone was just amazing, with skillsets unknown till then bouncing off the walls. Well, we’re women – we could and did deliver! That was last year. This year’s celebration of International Women’s Day, everything is planned to be online. Three days, 11, 25 and 30 March on an exciting new platform – Hopin. As always we bring you the most inspiring and informative speakers, there’s also 1:1 networking, Expo Booths (stands) and so much more. I don’t want to spoil your surprises here, so just check HERE for full details and booking. If you haven’t already, there’s just still time to book. I can’t wait to see old friends and new, all online in just… 5 days’ time! See you soon! Don’t miss out, don’t forget, full details and booking HERE