We asked our members what they are looking forward to after lockdown ends in Spain – not just the big things, but the little things too. The response was overwhelming, so many thanks to everyone that responded.

Let’s hope we don’t have too long a wait for a safe return to the lives we miss, in the country we love.

EATING OUT

Go for a walk on the beach and meet friends at the Chiringuitos. The businesses will need our help.

“Going out for my normal coffee and a chat”

“Walk down to our beachfront and have a coffee”

“Coffee at our local bar Meeting up with friends. Normal life”

“Ladies who Lunch!”

FAMILY

Things will never go back to the way they were but priority will be to hug the people that matter and then hug the ones that didn’t matter so much before but do now.

Being able to kiss and cuddle my mother

“Seeing our family especially our grandchildren who are always here with us usually. We will have missed many birthdays including mine so looking forward to a big celebration in the garden”

“Seeing my parents, and brother, sister in law and nephew”

“Giving my grandchildren the biggest hug ever”

“Visit my 83 year old Mum only 30kms away”

“As soon as it’s safe I’m jumping on a plane to Madrid to give my nan and my parents a tight hug. I’m hoping that they all (especially my nan) are still there to receive by the time I can make it”

I can’t wait to see my kids and my 20 month old granddaughter. She picked up my son’s phone today, gave it to him and said grandma for the first time because she wanted to video chat with me as we do every day. I’m really looking forward to hearing her say Grandma in person

Flying to the UK to hug my children. One of whom is a front-line NHS doctor, and just recovering from the virus.

SOCIALISING

I’m looking forward to seeing the look on my son’s face when he finally sees his friends again. He’s 8 and missing them like crazy!

Going to see my girlfriend.

“I’m looking forward to joining my Spangles Harmony Chorus ‘family’ so that we can all sing together again, as it will be a while (although not too long, I hope) before I can see my family in the UK”

“Meeting up with friends”

“Above all meeting friends and family, then the fun things you do with them – going to bars, pubs, restaurants, birthday parties, beaches, fiestas, concerts, football matches, beer festivals”

“Giving all my friends who work in bars, tapas bars and restaurants n Málaga who have become like family to me over the years, the hugest hug ever”

“Going to the wonderful market in Cadiz. Food, drink, social engagement!”

“Go out for a drink and meet friends and family”

“Just meeting our friends, all alive and well, for lunch in our favourite place with our favourite staff there, all alive and well!”

Just hug my friends again- especially those who work in the NHS

Having a community tapas and card-game get-together with the whole village, in the bar…. aka “normal Sunday afternoon.”

Just for someone to put their arm around me and give me a BIG hug.

EXERCISE & OUTDOORS

Taking my wee girl to the park, seeing her play with other kids again, letting her run riot after being cooped up here for so long

Going out, anywhere, with my other half. Whether for a drink, a meal or even just to the supermarket. Just together!

“Walking my dogs, poor things don’t understand what’s happening”

“Looking forward to walk along the beach, and a coffee with friends”

“Walking in the campo with my husband and dogs, paddling in the sea, sand trickling through my toes”

“Walk along the beach, walk in the hillside, go out for tapas with friends”

“Just going out for a walk and perhaps a drive to see my special friends in Mijas and Malaga- taking it very steady though”

“Paddling in the waves”

“Going to the beach, which I never do, but because I can’t now, that’s all I want to do”

“Just simply walking along the beach”

“Hoping to be able to go for a long walk on the beach with the dogs, before they are banned again!”

“Go running again! Feel sun on my face”

“Going for a walk in the campo again”

“I bought a 37 year old Italian motorbike in September, been fettling it a bit, can’t wait to go out and give it a proper spin!”

“The freedom just to stroll along the promenade in Sitges or take the train into Barcelona will be very enjoyable”

“Going for a lovely walk with my partner and dogs along the seafront”

“Going for a long walk in the campo”

Just to go out in the sun with my husband, who at 83 has been in isolation for 5 weeks now. Miss his company when shopping, will be amazing to do that together again.

To let my toddler daughter stomp through a park and shout at the ducks. She only just started walking alone a couple of weeks before the lockdown.

“I’m going to look at fishes”

“Run and run and run!!!”

“Taking my dog Brigitta training on Saturday mornings in Torre del Mar with the Mets Training Club”

“I can’t wait to take my kids to the beach”

“Go for a walk (the only thing I’m missing so far!)”

“I’m so looking forward to seeing my horses, they are well looked after on their Rancho home, a massive paddock to run around in, food, horsey companions, they have it all. I doubt they have given me much thought, but I will be over the moon, I’ve missed them sooooooo much!”

“Walking on the beach at dawn”

“Getting in my car and driving to my favourite beach or into the countryside”

“Going for a walk along the Río”

“Take a walk at our beautiful lakes just a few kms up the road, before the tourists descend on them again”

“Crossing the river Minho”

“Going for a swim in the sea”

“Going for a run through the hills of Collserola”

“Read a good book on the beach. The simple pleasures of life!”

“Just to be able to take buster my adorable shitzu for a long walk along the beach or in the woods”

“A walk …anywhere”

Just enjoy the beauty of nature and respect it more than ever.

TRAVELLING

I’m really looking forward to travelling to see my kids AND giving my poor OH some space although he has coped with me really well!!!

“Take a slow journey through Italy, top to toe, from Venice to Sicily, stopping in my favourite places”

“Find someone to look after my animals, drive to a 5 star Hotel in the Algarve, Portugal, put my feet up, and get waited on hand and foot, no expense spared”

Can’t wait to go camping again. All that wonderful outdoors!

GETTING BACK TO SPAIN

Coming back home to Spain to be with my mum and dad.

“Just visiting Spain again would be nice. I left many years ago, with the thought that I would look forward to returning when I retire. Since then, Brexit made this seem unlikely, and the coronavirus seems to have added to the barriers”

“I am looking forward to returning to my home in Olvera. My son and I were due to fly on 17th March but by then it would have been illegal for our friend to drive the 90 minutes each way to pick us up at Málaga. We are in Scotland and unless the UK Government put in place a lockdown similar to Spain’s I fear it will be a long time before flights resume. Today is Day 22 that Niall and I have been at home”

Being able to get to our Spanish home as stuck in UK.

PERSONAL CARE

Getting my hair done!!!

“Having my acrylic nails redone, I look like Edward Scissorhands!”

“Definitely going to the barbers immediately. Haircut situation is not so great right now!”

“Having my hair done and getting on a plane to see my family”

“The first thing I’ll do when this is all over is make appointments to look and feel better. Then go for a very, very long walk”

GOING BACK TO WORK

Going back to the job I love & am so lucky to have, playing the violin in an orchestra here & going out for a massive run surrounded by the poppy fields of Castilla under the big blue sky!

EVERYTHING ELSE

A walk in countryside, doing my stint in the charity shop and meeting friends. Normality.

“Going for a San Tomasso pizza, getting together with my art and hiking groups”

“Curry, haircut, iced coffee on the beach, helping my daughter move house”

“Getting a new battery for my watch!”

“Getting out of my prison. Because of my health I have not spoken face to face with anyone for 4 weeks. I am lucky I have a house and garden but I just want to walk out the gate and go to the supermarket”

“Not think going out to my essential work will bring the virus into my husband who is vulnerable”

“To reconnect with real life again!!”

“Keep on learning, working and looking after my love ones”

“To walk on the beach once more have a tea cake and a meal out enjoy the sun once more go to the garden centre too”

“Go for a delicious ‘racion’ in our favourite bar, socialise with other adults and have conversations with people face-to-face, kids to see their friends again, go out dancing, ride my horse, go for trips out in car”

“Lunch in our favourite place with our favourite staff there, all alive and well!”

“Subverting Brexit”

“Going round all the city centre fashion shops, I love that and I’m really missing it, I do that twice a week at least, websites just aren’t the same!

“Going for a really long walk with my dog & taking him to the beach again. The beach is always exciting, even in normal times when he goes quite regularly. I can’t wait to see his reaction when he finally gets to go again. Also, knowing that I can get on a plane to go and see my family in England (or vice versa). They should have been coming here next week”

Just to walk on the beach, to meet friends for tapas and watch the world go by, take a trip to the garden centre and buy flowers. Simple things that mean so much.

See my parents and get married. We have had to postpone our May wedding but plan to have a small registry ceremony once this is over and big celebration next year.

Your wonderful responses helped our Chair, Sue Wilson, write an article on life after lockdown for The Local Spain. You can read Sue’s article, based on your comments here: What’s the first thing you’ll do when Spain’s lockdown is lifted?

The following selection of statements express, in their own words, some thoughts, anxieties & concerns expressed by Bremain members with regard to the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown in Spain.

“I worry that with my husband & I both being over 65, we would not have access to ventilators, should the need arise – they are in short supply & would likely only be offered to younger patients.”

“With my husband still working, I am alone with the kids all day. I am finding it difficult to juggle their schooling with my own work.”

“I am worried about my family in UK – especially my daughter, who has asthma. I would rather the UK had the same tough restrictions we have here.”

“I run a small local business and am not eligible for any of the assistance being offered by the Spanish government, unless I close down the company. I’m worried that if schools remain shut until September it will be very difficult to get back up and running at work, even if there are clients to sell to.”

“I have had 2 trips to the UK cancelled already, & I worry about my elderly mum living in a residential care home. It’s difficult not knowing when, or perhaps if, I will see her again.”

“My main concern is that the UK are not taking things as seriously as Spain, & not enforcing compliance with lockdown. I’m very concerned for older parents/relatives & sad for cancelled visits, but just want them all to stay home and stay well.”

“My main concern is for my mental health at the moment.  Whilst in my house things seem okay, and I appreciate how lucky I am to have a garden, but when I first ventured out to buy bread recently, I felt like a criminal. Now when I go to the supermarket, I feel incredibly sad.”

“Who knows how long the lockdown may last or the long-term effect on so many towns & villages that rely totally on tourism.”

“Living in an apartment, my main concern is for my mental health. I have used running as my main form of exercise to combat it for the last 2 years. Now all we have is a small balcony with 2 hours of sunlight a day.”

“I travel a lot between Spain & UK for business, which has now ground to a halt, causing our small start-up to lose £1000’s in revenue.”

“Although I am used to doing some work from home, it is strange having my wife & son in the house all day, every day. I am concerned mainly for my son’s physical & mental health as despite all our efforts, it is boring for him & he needs fresh air & exercise.”

“The first concern is that family & friends are okay, but I’m also concerned about the impact on the economy & what comes after the virus is over.” 

“I run a hair & beauty salon business, which is currently closed & unable to operate. Waiting for information on government help, while still having to pay rent on the premises, is crippling.”

“I live just across the Portuguese border, & now cannot access facilities in Spain, which I rely on. This has affected my shopping, education, exercise & entertainment.”

“I own a relocation business. Not many people are able to relocate during lockdown & I wonder how long this may continue.”

“It’s difficult living on a development with young children.  We overlook a huge communal area that they usually use often, but they can only stare at now.”

“I am hoping that rapid tests will be available soon as I have had some mild symptoms.”

“We can’t go out to exercise in Spain, quite rightly, yet it’s still happening in the UK.”

“When this is all over, how do we to return to “normal?”. If the infections/deaths reach their peak and we enter a downward trend, then when and how will we begin to lift the restrictions?”  

“I live in La Linea & work across the border in Gibraltar. My company won’t allow working from home. I am not an essential worker, so I get questioned by the police every day and I am scared.”

“My partner is a nursing auxiliary at one of the local hospitals, assigned to A&E, so she’s one of the first people to come into contact with new patients.  The effect of her work on our everyday life has been quite dramatic.  We’re having to keep apart, whether eating, sleeping or watching a TV program.”

“I’ve been made temporarily unemployed from my teaching job so my main concerns are financial. The system is inundated with ERTE applications & my employer has no idea how long it will take for our applications to be processed.”

“My daughter’s education is a worry as there has been no notification of any online classes. Apparently, schools won’t open until June at the earliest.”

“I own an estate agency & my concern is for my staff – we are a close family business, & I worry about their future as well as my own.”

“My boyfriend’s family are from Madrid. His father is recovering from lung surgery & I am extremely concerned for his safety. He is locking himself in his house with his wife & they can’t even leave to go shopping as it would be too risky.”

“Both me & my boyfriend work in hotels – even after the crisis passes, we will not be able to restart our jobs due to all the cancellations. I don’t have a permanent job so am unable to get any financial help.”

“I have worked in tourism all my life. My principal worry is the economic situation. Where I live, almost everyone is involved in tourism & obviously 2020 looks like it will be a nonstarter.”

“I’m self-employed and it was a bit of a shock to wake up & find I had lost all my work.  I love my job & worked hard to build up my business.”

“My young children & I live in a city flat with no garden so it’s really tough for them.”

“It’s a worrying time, I’m a self-employed dog groomer & my husband works in a bar – neither of us can work, we have a young son to feed, with no money coming in & rent to pay.”

“My heart goes out to the many in tourism with small businesses, who, like myself, have now lost every single booking for March & April, with cancellations pouring in on a daily basis for future months too.”

“I am concerned for my family here who are all worried financially as can no longer work & have young families to support. They are wondering how to pay bills, rent, etc. They are not sure what help they will receive.”

“I am used to working from home but having the kids home from school whilst working at the kitchen table is not ideal. I am trying to make the most of this by enjoying the time I have with my kids & doing craft activities with them.”

“My biggest concern is for my partner & her colleagues who work at a local hospital. We have to keep a safe distance from one another at home, which is not a natural situation.”

“I run a language school, so overnight we were shut down. Getting hundreds of students onto an online platform has been a nightmare. If this doesn’t work & the lockdown continues, I will have to fire all my staff. If we have no income, I don’t know how long we could last.”

“As I’d be classed as ‘vulnerable’, I’m grateful for the actions of the Spanish government.”

“The hardest thing is not seeing our family as we are not allowed out.”

“I feel the government here really cares & everyone is working together to try to get through this with as few deaths as possible. I worry about the economic & social after-effects.”

“I feel very relieved to be in lockdown. I feel as though I’m in a much better situation here than many of my family & friends in the UK who see little danger ahead.”

“The UK is depending on the good sense of the public & will get into serious problems resulting in unnecessary deaths. Advice, & reliance on everybody’s good sense is not enough. If speed limits were only advisory many would ignore them. COVID-19 advice is exactly the same, Spain is correct in enforcing the lockdown.”

“Isolation is not a great way to spend the day but it’s preferable to being dead!”

“I’m stuck in UK! I was due back to finalise my residencia in Spain & am now worried I might not manage it before end of year.”

“I am enjoying the clear skies, lack of airplanes & the reduction in pollution.”

“I am concerned about the number of people who are ignoring the guidelines. They are putting others at risk.”

“I feel for those who are lonely and am so sorry for those losing their income & will find it a big struggle. There are a lot of people with worse problems than I have.”

“I miss the physical contact of friends & family. On-line is fine to compensate if you are not able to see them but not all the elderly have this facility.”

“I am bored!”

“I love that people are finding the bright sides. How people behave in crises like these says a lot about them.”

Coronavirus Info & Links

Bremain in Spain has collated a wealth of information and advice to keep you updated throughout the current Coronavirus pandemic.

This information includes basic protective methods, emergency contact numbers, and a host of useful links to reliable sources. There is also advice and suggestions on how to keep your families safe, sane, healthy, and entertained during your quarantine. We will continue to add new and relevant information as the crisis develops and welcome feedback from our members on how to improve our offering. Please stay home, stay connected, and stay safe!

You can download the PDF below.