As the temperature rises so the swimming pool beckons. Being able to cool down in a pool is an important part of enjoying your property in Spain. But what can you do if you don’t have access to one? Build one, of course!

If you have the space available many people see this as a ‘must’ but it is important that you take the correct measures if you are thinking of installing your own. In this article in our blog we provide some advice about how you can enjoy your own, custom-built pool safely and legally:

As many people have been working from home over the past few months their living rooms and kitchens have been transformed into make shift offices. But how about gazing up from your work to views of the sea?

With the increase in remote working, the potential to live anywhere in the world and still have employment has grown. We’ve come to see that many types of work need not be based in an office and this is giving companies and their employees greater flexibility.

So where would you like to call home? In this article we look at the advantages of relocating your ‘office’ to Spain, how you can begin your property search remotely and why now is a good time to buy:

If you have an income and are resident in Spain then it is likely that you will have to pay income tax here. There are different tax brackets and individual allowances depending on your income and your personal circumstances. For example, if you are over 65.

In this article we provide an overview of what the categories and the allowances are to help you have an approximate idea of how much you might need to pay:

2019 saw the launch of our ÁbacoClub - an opportunity to offer our clients a range of activities and events to enable them to enjoy Spain even more. Our face-to-face meetings had to be curtailed, but not to be beaten we took to YouTube instead. These are four of our most recent videos designed to entertain and inform.

Conversation

Sofia Zajac explains in this Spanish conversation video that for the time being the ÁbacoClub will continue online. In this class you will learn how to buy a train ticket. You can also download the cheat sheet and make your comments on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and directly to Sofia:

Spanish Conversation - Buying a Train Ticket

Painting ceramics

In this ÁbacoClub video meet Oxana from Paint it Ceramics in Playa Flamenca. Oxana and her translator show you the range of items that you can choose from and then decorate according to your preferences. Once the pottery has been painted it is glazed and then baked in the oven - why not present one as a gift? There are also pottery-making and painting classes available if you would like to develop your creative streak. To find out more, watch the video:

Picture frames

Learn how to decorate a picture frame with dried flowers. Sofia uses Preserved Hydrangea flowers to give a drab picture frame a new lease of life. She shows you how you can use a few basic materials to create an impressive and beautiful frame to any picture you choose:

How to cook strawberry and chocolate pastry braid

Making a guest appearance, Gemma from Cocina con Gemma shows us how to create this very easy but delicious desert.

Not tried a parador? Now’s the time

Spain’s parador hotels are run by the state and are often located in historic and spectacular buildings. They offer a guaranteed level of service and accommodation and using them can be a good way of exploring Spain. In this article from The Local they recommend 10 that you might like to try: