A Complicated Equation

HD came into the staffroom with our advances on salary. Without prompting, he got onto the subject of our Residency permits, without which we can’t conveniently leave and return to the country. He indicated that he was desperate to get away over the border for a long weekend of alcohol, and “get away from this shithole”. This was a bit embarrassing because T3 is not the sort of lady who appreciates swearing and is besides a convert to Islam.

That aside, it was gratifying to see the little twat’s suffering. And for drink! Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m as much a fan of the odd few pints odf Guinness and a decent amount of wine with good food as the next person. But I don’t miss it. It’s something to look forward to, not to crave.

I was unsure of the state of my advances to date, and arranged to check them with HD. (Even over this, he made life difficult, saying not to worry, it was all in spreadsheet. Very good, but I needed to know how much). Anyway, it’s about £600 to date. It’ll all be taken from my April UK salary.

And then I made a few phone calls to Playgroups and the British School to see about getting my little girl in there next year. They are all heavily oversubscribed, and even if I got her a place, the fees would give our cash-flow a severe pummelling.

The size of my advances – working out at about £80-£90 per week – is much higher than expected. (On previous trips here, I’d usually have change out of £200 over a ten week contract). That, and the fact that it’s going to be difficult if not out of the question to get a school place, have led me to radically rethink the future out here.

There’s an equation in these matters: it’s complicated but essentially it boils down to the balance between quality of life and income. The salary here, taking into account the pay rise, means that we could pay our bills and maintain our home in the UK, and have enough money out here. But the lack of nursery places, and the prevailing culture here will have a seriously detrimental effect on the wife and bairn. It’s not like the European Mediterranean where family life is partly lived in public and is highly regarded. Here, family life is lived behind closed doors. Which is ok if you have a big house and an extended family to be visited by or to visit. We don’t, here. We’d be cooped up too much. It wouldn’t be fun. And the salary, enough to live on, wouldn’t be enough to compensate.

And so. The plan that’s forming is to have the family come out here for a couple of months, as soon as the wife’s finished the course she’s studying at the moment, and the Residence/Visa situation permits. She’s keen to see the place, and it would be like a long holiday. And then move on in the new academic year. I don’t know where, but it must answer to the same financial/life-quality equation. If we can adjust our UK finances sufficiently, then maybe Spain or Italy: we can have some family time together.