Brand New Lanzarote Business and Residents Association Website Launched

We are very proud to announce the launch of our brand new website which has been in development for several months. Late last year we made the decision to retire our old website as after many years of faithful service it definitely deserved a break. 

While our new site has been in development we launched this blog back in November. This is where we have been posting all our news articles and then sharing them to our Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus profiles. It is time to wish this blog a fond farewell though, as our blog posts are now integrated directly into the new site which we hope you'll agree works really well!

As the old website was starting to look very dated, we made the decision of starting again from scratch in order to make the new website really look totally different. We didn't want to take a half measure and just tweak the old site, it was time for a totally fresh and modern site. Since our last website was launched the Internet has changed immeasurably, and web users expect websites that reflect the speed and ease that they are now used to. 

A big part of this change has occurred due to mobile Internet, as now people can browse sites from almost anywhere they go on their mobile phone. Websites need to be built with mobile users in mind as this is where an increasing amount of web traffic comes from. 

Our new website is smooth, simple to navigate and designed to showcase the best of Lanzarote via the different sections that have been included. Various tabs have been included at the top of the website for simple access to different sections that we feel are most important to our users. 

We have our blog which will be updated to include all of the posts from this blog and all new posts:

There is a tab in which you can access all of the videos we have added to our YouTube channel: 

The about section gives all the information you need about the LBRA such as our history, aims and values:

From the directory tab you will find links to all of the great businesses that are members of the LBRA:

 Last but not least on the far top right hand corner there is a tab that will take you to a page with all the information you need for joining the LBRA:

Our new site is designed with social media in mind with our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds directly integrated into the website. There are also links to our social media channels along the bottom of the page and the ability to share our blog posts and other sections of the site to any social media channel of your choice. Along the bottom of the site you will also find links to job listings, as we aim to be useful as well as informative.

We really hope that you like the new site as much as we do, and if you like it please let us know via our social media channels as we would love to here what you think! Our new site can be found here: http://lanzarotebusinessassociation.com/

The site was designed by Ashley Pearson, who is a IT Executive and Google Rising Star with many years experience of web design. You can find out more about Ashley via his LinkedIn profile including information on how to contact him if you would like a website developed.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ashpearson

This month's member interview: Rob Head from financial services company Volopa

This month’s member interview is with Rob Head from financial services company Volopa, Rob divides his time between the UK, Lanzarote and other European countries so it was good to be able to catch up with him.

Here is Rob (left) at work for Volopa

LBRA: Hi Rob thanks for taking the time to talk to us; we know it’s not easy juggling your time between work and the different countries you travel to for that, how often do you manage to visit Lanzarote and why is Lanzarote so important to you?
Rob: Hi thank you for the opportunity. At the moment I manage to visit Lanzarote at least twice a year, usually for between a week or two. My main reason for visiting is that my parents moved to the Island in 2003. They were originally looking to move to mainland Spain but during a holiday to Lanzarote they fell in love with it and put a deposit down there and then on a new build in Playa Blanca. It also fits in nicely with Volopa and the potential opportunities. So for the last couple of years it has not been just a holiday but work as well. 

Last year I also travelled to Normandy in France and County Tullow in Ireland. They were both due to our partnership with the European Challenge tour, which is a golf tour for up and coming players to qualify for the main tour. I will probably have to travel to a few events in Europe this year to see the players. By using our Multi-Currency Pre-Paid card, the players can save money when traveling to events.

LBRA: Now we know you and your partner Eve Mari have a gorgeous daughter Alexia who we met on your last visit here, do they always travel with you when you are working, or more so when working in Lanzarote due to the family connection?
Rob: Yes they always travel with me to Lanzarote, it gives my parents a chance to spend some time with Alexia. Last year we had “The Volopa Irish Challenge” which was about 45 minutes south of Dublin. It meant spending a week out there. Eve & Alexia managed to join me for 5 of those days. It was great to be able to spend time with them whilst working and not missing Alexia growing up. She is 15 months old now and is changing by the day. Now that Eve is no longer on Maternity leave it will be harder for them travel with me. 

LBRA: You are a partner in Volopa can you tell us about Volopa and your role?
Rob: Yes I joined Volopa nearly three years ago. Volopa is the trading name of Volopa Financial Services (Scotland) Ltd. We are FCA regulated and HMRC registered. We were set up to bring transparency to the Foreign Exchange market. Most of us are from a financial background where you have to show your clients how much you are charging them. For some reason this does not apply to Foreign Exchange, even though it affects more people than financial products. 

We offer both a Bank to Bank service and a Multi-Currency Pre-Paid Mastercard. Our bank to bank service helps individuals or businesses that need to send money in a different currency. This can be to either their own bank account or a third party. For individuals this could be for large purchases such as a property or car, or just simply moving funds over from the UK such as pension etc. For businesses this can be paying suppliers or staff abroad. We will soon be able to accept funds from third party’s which would help people that get paid in a different currency. An example of this would be someone getting paid in $’s but you only have a Euro account. At the moment the bank will be doing the conversion giving you no control of the cost. 

Our card program helps people save money when traveling; this can be for both individuals and companies. At the moment you can hold up to 14 different currencies on the one card. This will soon be increased to 17. The card is great for people that travel as you are cutting out the excessive bank or credit card fees without having to carry too much cash. The way that we operate is by giving our customers true Inter-Bank rates and then charge a pre agreed commission. So you know the exact cost of each transaction. The cards are a fixed fee. 

LBRA: Have you always worked in the financial sector?
Rob: Yes apart from a few years after leaving school, for the last 25 years I have been involved in the financial sector. During this time I spent the first ten years with Lloyds Bank Stockbrokers, starting at the bottom and worked my way up to the dealing desk. This gave me a great understanding of how each department worked and the process from execution to settlement. I also spent over 11 years with MF Global (Used to be part of Man Group), where I ended up in charge of a desk that covered multiple products including FX, Futures & Options and CFD’s.

LBRA: Do you think most people realise how easy it is to use a money transfer company and how much they can save on transfers?
Rob: I would say that the majority of people are either not aware or do not realise either the benefits or how easy it is. Some people are worried about security. As I said earlier we are FCA regulated and the FCA are one of, if not the strongest regulators in the World. Also all funds go via a Segregated client account. This means that the funds never touch our own account so cannot be touched. We also clear through a Tier 1 bank which is currently Barclays. The biggest problem is transparency, which is how we are different.

 The banks and a majority of FX Brokers/Money Transfer Company’s state that they are commission free. What they actually do is charge via the rate that they give you and also charge a transfer fee on top. The way that we operate is by giving our customers access to true Inter-Bank rates and then charge a transparent pre agreed commission. The maximum we charge is 1% but this can be a lot lower depending on volumes etc. We have built our own comparison tool which we use to show potential customers how much their current provider is charging them. The expression on their faces at times is a picture, especially when they realize that the person that they thought was a friendly broker with their interest at heart, was actually charging them a higher margin (commission) on larger transactions than smaller ones. 

Another customer that had recently purchased a property abroad used his bank for the transfer. It was before he had met us. When we checked the rate, even if we had charged him our highest rate, the saving would have been enough to buy a new car to leave at the property. The property was less than 500,000 Euros. This is also the same for travel money from banks and bureaux de change’s. A great example of this is when I travelled to Tenerife in January. At the Airport the currency desk were stating commission free, yet I changed money on my card and paid 1% commission. I ended up with over 70 euros more on just £450, it was like I was getting dinner on the first night for free. Or for a golfer a free round. 

LBRA: We know Volopa have sponsored a number of sporting events can you tell us about any of those?
Rob: Yes of course. Because we offer the Pre-Paid card as well as bank to bank, sport is a natural fit for us. At the moment we are involved with Hickstead Royal International Horse Show and the European Challenge Tour. The RIHS is a great event. We were able to show both Horse owners and suppliers how we can save them money. The amount of money that some of the teams spend when traveling abroad to shows is amazing. We are working closely with one of the top riders and by using our card instead of their current bank card, we saved them nearly £1,000 on trip that cost 17,000 Euros. This is on top of the savings we can make when owners are buying or selling horses in a different currency. 

With regards to the European Challenge Tour, the card helps both the players and caddy’s save money when traveling to events. A comparison we did for a player last year would have saved nearly £120 compared to their bank card on 2,800 euros over an event. So on a 20 event season the saving is nearly £2,500 which makes a big difference. We can also help the players with their winnings and sponsorship payments in different currency’s. The player can also pay their caddy directly from their card to the Caddy’s card which again saves money for both of them. I am personally a keen, albeit not very good golfer. During my last trip to Lanzarote, thanks to the LBRA I managed to finally play a few games with some members and also a society at the Costa Teguise course. I was really impressed with the quality of both courses. 

LBRA: How apart from golf do you like to relax?
Rob: I used to swim and play squash to quite a good standard. Lately I try to spend as much of my spare time as possible with Eve & Alexia.

LBRA: What is it that Lanzarote has that appeals to you most, and would you consider living here full time?
Rob. Where do I start? I must admit that it wasn't until after a few years of visiting that I really appreciated Lanzarote. Until then I had only come over for long weekends to see my parents. Then my dad was taken ill and they had to fly him over to Gran Canaria. I came out to look after the dogs and be close by in case his condition deteriorated (fortunately he is ok now and could not fault the care that he got and has received since). I ended up spending two weeks on my own. It was then that I realised how great Lanzarote is and how my parents had fallen in love with the island. Obviously the climate helps, but the pace of life compared to London is so much nicer, the scenery is stunning. The people are friendly. The contrast of the black & red picon against the white buildings. No high rise buildings. Every time I do the drive out of PB, the mountains never look the same. Last November was the first time that I had seen everywhere so green as well. The choice of restaurants and the quality of food. 

From the stunning beaches with little lagoons to the crashing waves along the front near the Light House. The first time that I brought Eve over, I was worried that she would not like it. She was more used to trips to Ibiza, Las Vegas, and Dubai etc. I could not have been more wrong. She instantly fell in love with the Island. As for living here, it is something that we talk about quite a bit, especially now that we have Alexia to consider, who also seems so happy whenever we brought her over. The ideal situation would be that I set up an office on the island. I am not sure if there is anyone doing what I do full time on the island. It may help people knowing that the company they are dealing with are there as opposed to being in the UK. It certainly helps meeting people face to face which is why I am always happy to meet people whenever I am over

LBRA: Favourite places to visit on the Island?
Rob: Now this is a tough one. Virtually everywhere that we have been to has its own great points and there is still quite a bit that I have not seen yet. Last year we went to Haria which was stunning and would like to see more of that side of the island. Early evening cocktails at Marea Terraza, Sunday market in Teguise, walking the dogs along the front at Faro Park, the old harbour at PDC & Peurto Callero are what we try to do each trip but more than happy for suggestions. 

LBRA: Anything about you that people would be surprised to know? Famous friend perhaps?
Rob: None that I have in my phone, although I have met quite a few with work and golf. 

LBRA: Five words to describe Lanzarote?
Rob:  Tranquil, Scenic, Relaxing, Cultural, Friendly

LBRA: Besides Lanzarote where would be your favorite place that you have visited and why?

Rob: It would have to be India. Three years ago Eve and myself went for nearly three weeks. We travelled around Rajasthan, starting and ending in Mumbai, but taking in among other places, Delhi, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur & Jodhpur. We arranged everything ourselves (well Eve did most of it) and was a real Planes, Trains & Automobiles trip with the odd tut tut, elephant & camel thrown in. The highlight being proposing to Eve at the Taj Lake hotel in Udaipur which was used in the Bond film Octopussy. Thankfully she said yes. They say that India attacks all of your senses and it certainly does.

LBRA: You mentioned a while ago that people can earn money by working with you by recommended new clients can you tell us how that works?
Rob: Yes of course. We are always looking to deal with partners/affiliates (IB’s). This can be either individuals that want to earn some extra money, websites that have users that require our services, businesses that have clients needing to convert money. 

Because we offer the Multi-Currency Pre-Paid card as well as the Bank to Bank service, we are attractive to anyone from the UK traveling to Lanzarote. This will soon be rolled out to the rest of Europe so will also be attractive to Sweden, Norway and Denmark who need to buy Euro’s. By simply having a link on their website, anyone clicking on that link and opening an account with us, the owner of the site would earn a % of any commission generated. As there are only a few All Inclusive holidays and a large amount of Villa Rentals, people need to buy Euro’s. Because of our low commission rates, they would be adding an extra service to their customers and generating another revenue stream, even when not using their services. People spend hours saving money on flights, hotel, car hire etc then give a lot of it back by not looking at the actual rate they are getting on their Euros. 

The types of businesses and website that can benefit from this include but not exclusive to are;
Travel agents, Villa rentals/management, Estate agents, Wedding planners, Car hire, Tourist information, Excursions sites. 

Once you are set up as an IB, you would be given a login. Via the login, you can check real time, what commission has been generated. This is then paid on a monthly basis.
If anyone thinks that they have a site or database of people that they think we can help, please get in touch and we can see what we can do together. Also if they are a non profit making organisation, then we would be more than happy to set it up so that the rebate goes to a charity or charities of their choice. 

LBRA: And finally are there any extra benefits for LBRA members?
Rob: Yes of course. For LBRA members, the maximum that we would charge is 0.9% with the same minimum. Just mention LBRA when contacting or applying. 

LBRA: Rob thank you so much for sparing the time to talk to us, it’s good to be able to find out more about the people behind the business profile and share information between members. We would also like to say thanks to Rob who despite not being here full time does manage to attend quite a number of meetings and LBRA events. We wish you every success with the business and for your future happiness with Eve Mari and lovely daughter Alexia, and many more happy visits to Lanzarote. If you would like to know more about Volopa, how it can save you money on transfers, the Volopa card or by working with Rob then please contact him via email rob@volopa.com

Lanzarote Business and Residents Association Membership Directory 2016

The Lanzarote Business and Residents Association continues to go from strength to strength as we continue to add new services, and help assist increasing numbers of residents and tourists here in Lanzarote. This is also reflected by the growing number of members of the Association. The good work that we are doing is increasingly being recognised here on the island, leading to growing interest in our services and membership. 

In order to help promote our members and also give an idea of the large number of quality businesses that are members of the LBRA, here is a list of our 2016 membership with links to their websites. We have a wide variety of different businesses that are part of the LBRA family including restaurants, property companies, wedding services, a surf school and even a cinema. We are very proud to have such a wide cross section of businesses that are part of the LBRA, offering a great diversity of services.  

 Property Management Solutions SLU   Playa Blanca

 Lanzarote One  

The Dolphin Inn  Costa Teguise

American Indian / El Ancla / Golden Corner bars in Puerto del Carmen

 Island Mobility   Playa Blanca

 Starlight Services Playa Blanca

 Lavaflow Surf  /Lanzarote Rookie Lifeguards / Swim lanzarote 

 Emmas Cantina  Puerto del Carmen

Lanzarote Go Karting San Bartolomé

Colorworks  Tías - Cinema 6D - Marina Lanz

 P Kelly Villas

 Omnicars  rent a car 

 Sunset Beach bar Puerto Del Carmen

 Lanzarote Luxury Villas Playa Blanca

 Kyle Properties
  
 Las Brisas  Playa Blanca

 Weddings Lanzarote   

Jennifer Cunningham Insurance  

 Lanzarote Weddings 
 
 The BookSwops
 
 Volopa Financial Services

 Total Developments

 Playa Blanca Villa Management

 Auszeit Lanzarote 

Kristians Restaurant

Highlander Too

Dye Consulting 

ISO in the Sun

Buggies/Azure restaurant in Puerto Calero
If you are interested in becoming a member of the LBRA then please don't hesitate to contact us via email (lanzaroteba@gmail.com) or phone (928 596 080).

Places are going fast for the first Worldwide InstaMeet in Lanzarote on 23rd April

Do you love taking photographs of breath-taking landscapes and natural beauty? If so we have some exciting news for you! On Saturday 23rd April the Worldwide Instameet 13 is taking place in Lanzarote, the first to happen on the island. This is an event in which tens of thousands of people right across the world will be meeting up to take photographs during the weekend of April 22nd - 24th.

During these meet ups those passionate about photography and Instagram will take photos and videos together, and share tips and tricks. We think it is great that the event will be taking place this year in Lanzarote, as it is an excellent opportunity to get together with friends, make new friends and have fun taking photos of the stunning landscape of Lanzarote. This will be a great showcase for the island we all love, offering great publicity.

A photo posted by Simon Turkas (@simonturkas) on Mar 7, 2016 at 12:03pm PST

This year's Worldwide Instameet 13 is also happening at the same time as Earth Day 2016 (April 22nd), so in a blog post by Instagram the company added:

"And since Worldwide InstaMeet 13 falls on Earth Day (April 22), spend the weekend celebrating the wonder and beauty of our planet together. This event is also an opportunity to get together and give back. For those inspired to include a public service element to their InstaMeet, use the #LifeOnEarthWWIM13 hashtag to share and explore the many ways the Instagram community gives back during the weekend."

For such a small island with a relatively tiny population, there are a large number of amazing photographers, one of which, Siboney Tabares King, we have written a blog post about before. It will be great to see so many talented photographers meeting up, and showing the stunning natural beauty of Lanzarote in their own unique way, through the social medium of Instagram. 

The InstaMeet in Lanzarote has been organised by Centros de Arte, Cultura y Turismo (CACT Lanzarote) who have kindly funded the entrance to the Montañas del Fuego and tickets on the tour bus around this stunning volcanic area.

Hasta el infinito en #MontañasdelFuego #Timanfaya #Lanzarote #CACTLanzarote ¡Te esperamos! #Volcano #amazing #nature #InstaLove #MadeInCanarias #Canarias #CanariasViva #Ig_Lanzarote

A photo posted by CACT Lanzarote (@cact_lanzarote) on Feb 23, 2016 at 12:02pm PST

The organisation has been done in collaboration with:
•  @Jose_BodyBoard
•  @IG_Lanzarote
• @CarmenMartin
• @Yakito_Cabrera

Event Itinerary:

9:45 to 10:00 meeting at the entrance to the Montañas del Fuego booth, walk up to Islote de Hilario, restaurant El Diablo.

10:15 to 11:15 guided tour bus around the Montañas del Fuego

11:15 to 12:15 outdoor visit of the Montañas del Fuego

12:30 to 15:00 lunch in Teleclub Masdache. IMPORTANT this lunch must be booked separately up until the 19th April here: https://www.ticketea.com/entradas-comida-grupo-instameet-lanzarote/

16:00 to 18:00 photo shoot at the Montañas del Cuervo

This event is proving very popular and with just two weeks left to go spaces are filling up fast. There are already around 60 people registered to go, and only around 35 tickets left at the time of writing. To avoid missing out on this excellent and free photographic event, make sure to register here: https://www.ticketea.com/entradas-world-wide-instameet-13-lanzarote/. We are really looking forward to going ourselves and to seeing you all there. You can also follow the LBRA on Instagram where we post daily photos of Lanzarote.

Are You Taking Part in the Charity Walk/ Run in Arrecife on Saturday 16th April?

Here at the Lanzarote Business and Residents Association we love to support local initiatives that are aimed at helping residents in need of extra assistance, such as worthy charitable causes. This year we are proud sponsors of the charity walk/run organized by Asociacion Tinguafaya being held on Saturday 16th April.

 Asociacion Tinguafaya does great work providing respite care and support to individuals and families. Why not help raise funds for them and have fun in an active and social way, all at the same time! 

 

If you are unable to take part then donations are very welcome and you can make a transfer direct to their account, or we can collect the money on their behalf. Please contact us if you require further details via email (lanzaroteba@gmail.com) or phone (928 596 080).

 

Registration is on the same day – Saturday 16h April and Registration opens at 08.30

The Run/Walk Starts at the Arrecife Gran Hotel at 10.30 and the donation fees are:-

10 km € 10.00
5 km € 5.00
2.5 km € 5.00

To find out more about Asociacion Tinguafaya you can follow this link to their Facebook profile: Asoc Tinguafaya or Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsocTinguafaya
There is also information about the charity on the Lanzarote Cabildo website

We hope to see you there and have a great time! 

Eating Out in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen

Our members own a variety of different  businesses around the island of Lanzarote, many of which are restaurants. We were invited one evening by some of our members to eat out at three different restaurants in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen. 

The restaurants we visited were:

El Ancla Restaurant and Grill (www.elancla-lanzarote.com)

El Ancla serves a variety of different types of food including Pizza and grilled food such as steak. It has an excellent view out towards the Old Town harbour, offering a really authentic dinning experience. You can even see people playing a traditional game of bochas (traditional bowling game) which offers added entertainment. 

Address: 

El Varedero No2 

Old Town, 

Puerto Del Carmen,

Tias 35518 

Lanzarote

Telephone:

+34 928 51 36 39

Emma's Cantina Mexicana (www.emmascantina.com/)

 "Emma’s Cantina Mexicana is the only Mexican restaurant in Lanzarote owned and managed by a Mexican, serving traditional Mexican cuisine and using Mexican products with dishes cooked by a Mexican chef.

Situated in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen near the picturesque Harbour with easy parking facilities, Emma’s Cantina Mexicana offers a wide selection of Mexican Food including Fajitas, Quesadillas, Nachos, Enchilladas, the best Chili con Carne and Chili Rojo, plus salads and vegetarian versions of the above, amongst many other tasty dishes."

Address:

Calle Teide 20
Old Town
Puerto del Carmen
Tías 35510
Lanzarote

Telephone:

+34 928 51 41 54 

Social Media:

Facebook

Twitter

Kristian's Restaurant (www.kristians-restaurant.com/)

“Kristian's is one of the most popular restaurants in Lanzarote since it opened. The philosophy of the restaurant was simple: seasonal local ingredients, classic dishes with some delightful updates, affordable prices and a friendly welcome.

We have continued this fantastic work that made Kristians such a success, while also bringing some of our qualities that all customers new and old will love.

Chris and I, Eimear, are dedicated to quality, a friendly service, reasonable prices and a keenly priced wine list that will cater for everybody and if you’re not sure please ask.
We look forward to welcoming you to our restaurant and showing you why it is one of the best places in Lanzarote to eat and one of the most popular restaurants in Lanzarote."

Address:

Calle Teide, 8
Old Town, 

Puerto del Carmen
35510 Tias, 

Lanzarote 

Telephone:

 +34 657659217

Social Media:

Facebook

Twitter 

All three restaurants serve very different styles of cuisine, but are all definitely worth visiting. We had an excellent evening out and hope this video inspires you to check out these restaurants.

Films with English Subtitiles at Lanzarote International Film Festival in April

Between the 7th and 16th of April, film lovers can look forward to The 16th edition of the Lanzarote International Festival of Cinema (FICL), with a large selection of excellent foreign films to be shown. There will be screenings of films from a variety of countries and directors, and  different genres and languages.

To make the films accessible to a wider audience such as English speaking residents of Lanzarote, and those visiting during April, a number of the original versions of the films will be screened at the FICL with English subtitles.

These are the films that will be screened at the Festival in their original version with English subtitles:

👉 Thursday 7 April, Jameos del Agua Auditorium:
EVOLUTION (Lucile Hadzihalilovic, 2015). Opening screening.

...

👉 Friday 8 April. Teatro Insular de Lanzarote:
HASTA EL AMANECER (Nico Alva, 2015)

👉 Monday 11 to Friday 15 April, Teatro Insular de Lanzarote:
OFFICIAL FEATURE FILM SELECTION. 80 competing short films from 17 countries
Documentary films: 18:00
Animation: 19:00
Spanish Fiction: 20:00
International Fiction: 21:00

Tickets information will be released next week.

You can keep up to date with the Lanzarote International Festival of Cinema on social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Excellent Full Time Job Opportunity with Lanzarote One Property Management Company

If you are currently seeking employment in Lanzarote, an excellent job opportunity has arisen  with Lanzarote One, a long established property management company and travel agency. The company are currently looking for a full time person to join their team at their office in Puerto del Carmen.

 If you are interested in this position you will need:

• A passion to offer a high level of customer service to their property owners and holiday guests
• To be able to work quickly and efficiently under pressure during busy periods as part of a team and to exercise a degree of initiative
• To be computer literate with accounts knowledge and experience
• To have a very good ability, written and spoken, in both Spanish and English.

 To apply please email your CV with a covering letter to lesley@lanzarote1.com

For more information about the company please visit their website: www.lanzaroteone.com/

You can also follow Lanzarote One on their social media channels: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LanzaroteOne/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lanzarote_One

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanzaroteone/

Daniel Trigg discusses voting rights for foreign residents living in Lanzarote

In this video interview, LBRA president and founder Daniel Trigg discusses a difficult, undemocratic and unfair  situation faced by foreign residents living in Lanzarote, including himself.  

Daniel Trigg, Founder and President of the LBRA

Daniel has lived in Lanzarote for almost 30 years so is not entitled to vote in UK elections. He is also unable to vote in Lanzarote island  elections, Canary Islands regional elections, or Spanish national elections either though. 

This is a problem faced by foreign nationals living in Lanzarote, The Canary Islands, and Europe as a whole that is only set to increase with migration.

This video was filmed at the lovely "El Cafe de Manny" at Playa Bastian in Costa Teguise. It is owned and run by the friendly and hard-working Manny who kindly agreed to let us film at the cafe (https://www.facebook.com/elcafedemanny/).

Manny at his cafe "El Cafe de Manny"

Please let us know if you have been affected by this unfair situation that exists for foreign residents in Lanzarote, and what steps should be taken to change it. Leave your comments below or get in touch with us via our social media channels. We are hoping that if enough people add their voices to this debate then we can fight to improve the voting rights for foreign residents as soon as possible. Thanks for your support.

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LanzaroteBusinessAssociation/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Lanzaroteba
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lanzarotelbra/

LBRA Member Interview: Sue Almond, founder of the Lanzarote Creative Writing Group

Sue is an extremely interesting person to meet and interview, and over tea and biscuits we found out a lot about Sue.  Sue has lived here almost 18 years and is the creator and founder of the Lanzarote Creative Writing Group and Writersend.com

We started with our usual question of when and how Sue came to be in Lanzarote, we always find this an interesting question and enjoy finding out what the reason or inspiration was that brings people to the island.

LBRA. Hi Sue, thanks for taking the time to meet us, can we ask how long you have lived here and why Lanzarote?

Sue. I moved here on the 8th October 1998, and for anyone that knows me and knows how rubbish I am at remembering dates they will realise that it must have been a significant experience for me to enable me to recall the date so easily. I came to take up a teaching post but it was an amazing and almost accidental journey that brought me here. The previous year I had holidayed in Fuerteventura with friends, and we enjoyed it so much we decided to return, however the agent could not offer us any availability and suggested Lanzarote instead. Where’s Lanzarote I asked, next door came the reply so we said okay lets go with it. Having discovered Lanzarote I loved it and instantly it found a place in my heart.

During the holiday we happened to pass a school and a friend said you never know you could work there; we laughed and said if only. I had recently taken early retirement and was looking for part time or supply work in the UK. Back home I was meeting a friend for coffee one morning and as I was early and looking for a new post I stopped to buy the Times Education Supplement which I had never done before. At home later that day I opened the paper and staring at me in a large boxed advert was a teaching post for the British School in Lanzarote. It felt like fate and I just knew I had to apply. The wait to hear the outcome was excruciating and I felt ill and would have been heartbroken should I not have been successful. After a 3 week, 4 stage selection programme the post was mine and within weeks I was here starting my new life.

LBRA. Sue would you class yourself as an artisan, we know you paint, write, enjoy photography, poetry and other creative arts? 

Sue. Gosh I had never thought about myself in those terms, I saw my early retirement as an opportunity to do things I had not fully had time to do before. I would consider myself a dabbler rather than an artist, and writing has always been my passion. In small ways I have fulfilled many of my ambitions by being in Lanzarote, for instance diving; so many things seem to be possible in Lanzarote, it’s a magical island.

LBRA. Tell us more about the creative writing group and Writers End?

Sue. I started the creative writing group in 2005 so last year was the 10th anniversary which I felt was a personal landmark, as many will know it’s often difficult to keep things continuing in Lanzarote, so to reach and surpass the 10 years was amazing and I held a celebratory lunch party.

10th Anniversary party

I had always been a scribbler and a writing group had always appealed to me. It was actually another lady who suggested we form one, and that gave me the spur to get started. However just as our plans were taking shape she fell pregnant and decided to leave the island, so I carried on and here we are. I started with a course which developed and it continued from there. We meet weekly on a Friday morning in Costa Teguise, the sessions are mainly stand alone but I do like to look back over previous work when possible.

The reason for them being stand alone is that they are flexible, drop in drop out, we have a number of members who cannot attend every week due to various reasons, we also have a few “swallows” for those of you that do not know swallows are what we call people who do not live here permanently who move back and forth throughout the year. We welcome everyone, even if just on holiday for a week or two and we encourage others to join us. 

Sue with a few members of the writing group.

Writersend.com is the website, and it explains more about the group, what we do, and is a forum for members work. We have expanded the sections and as well as the group and individuals work it includes reviews, published authors work, various features including some on Lanzarote, articles, group activities and lots of good information and advice.

I also started a children’s group which focused on writing and reading, it was very popular but due to personal circumstances I had to close it but if there was any interest for it in the future I would be happy to start a new group.

LBRA. You also published some short bits of history about Lanzarote?

Sue. Yes I originally wrote these for “Buzz” magazine and subsequently due to the interest published them on a blog and they are still available now if anyone is interested in reading them.

LBRA. You are also involved with a games group and book club?

Sue. Yes the book club originally started at the Book Shop in Costa Teguise, it has changed direction but still continues after 8 years, meeting once a month. The “games” group meet weekly and really developed from the book club, people I met at the book club expressed an interest in meeting others to play games such as scrabble, backgammon, cards etc. We would also like to introduce cribbage and would welcome anyone who wants to meet other game enthusiasts to join us.

LBRA.  Best things about living in Lanzarote?

Sue. On the practical side the cost of living particularly for a pensioner is so much lower, no real heating costs, council tax is so much cheaper, there are so many benefits. The climate and being able to always have doors and windows open allowing plenty of fresh air is an important factor. I have lots of friends and because I am retired I have plenty of time to enjoy life to the full, meeting friends, eating out and generally enjoying the Lanzarote life style. It is strange and a true fact that when I was seven I bought a Spanish phrase book.  I remember it well as I had to save up and it cost two shillings and sixpence and it had a mustard cover, the weird thing is that I had never met anyone Spanish or been to Spain, I could have chosen French or Italian but no, I knew I had to have this book and I think the feeling was rooted in me then that someday I had to learn the language and live in Spain.

 

Years ago I visited Andalucía and thought “I could live here when I retire”, but the winter there is very different to Lanzarote, there they have lots of rain and it’s colder and the evenings are darker. The lifestyle here really suits me and I love the traditional music, Flamenco has always been a favourite of mine even from a young age. 

LBRA. What if any changes would you like to see in Lanzarote?

Sue. Well I am not sure that I want to see many changes, I always said are we seeing the last of the best? When I first came here it reminded me of England in the 50s, but I knew that with time and media involvement such as the TV, changes would be inevitable. I liked the quaintness of it and its traditions, like Midnight Mass in Teguise, I remember going and during the service they opened the western doors and a troop of young people came in all in outfits and I thought how wonderful that in this day and age young people are willing to dress in costumes and learn traditional instruments like the timple. Carnival is another good example of people uniting to celebrate in time honoured traditions. I have never felt any resentment from locals to my being here and have always felt welcome at local fiestas, many of which are not advertised but when we attend they seem pleased that we go and enjoy their events. There will have to be some changes we all know that the health service is under strain and it is difficult for the younger population to find work, and I only hope that the local youngsters do not start to resent “immigrants” taking their jobs.

LBRA. I expect you have had lots of family and friends visit, where do you like to take them?

Sue. Love showing off the Manrique foundation and centres, Puerto Calero is also a favourite, driving through the Geria region and eating at inland Canarian bars and restaurants. I simply love the traditional and local places that offer authentic menus.

LBRA. Anything that would surprise people to know about you?

Sue. Well I was a professional Theatre Judge for the TMA regional theatre awards for 3 years. This allowed me to watch some wonderful productions and meet some great actors. These included amongst others: Frank Finlay, Timothy West, I saw Timothy in a superb show that his wife Prunella Scales had directed, David Yip, Dora Brian, John Thaw and his wife Shelia Hancock, but really too many to mention.

Another thing that people may not know about me is that when in my early 20’s, with 2 small children and a recent house move, my husband was killed in a car crash, you can imagine the impact this had of our lives. Of course I had great family support but had to work, I started working in a university library, which was ideal with my love of books. It was there that I realised that I needed a job that would offer us all financial security.

I considered doing a teacher training course but having worked in the university felt it would suit me better so I did my degree after which I did a one year teacher training post grad which launched my career. In life you find that one thing can happen that changes the whole picture, mine changed when I became widowed and a whole new picture emerged, I really loved university and for me teaching was a vocation not just a job. It was very rewarding and I enjoyed seeing the students when they made new discoveries, particularly on field trips and the theatre.

Sue pictured with Frank Finlay

LBRA. 5 words to describe Lanzarote?

Sue. Spiritual, varied, romantic, diverse, welcoming. 

LBRA. Any plans for the future?

Sue. Circumstances have made it necessary for me to spend more time in England so last year my partner Steve and I bought a Canal Boat, which had always been another of my ambitions. We spent most of last summer on it and plan to do the same most summer months, and we are looking forward to some exciting times on the water. I would never give up my base here but we are both hoping for some new adventures.

LBRA. Wow Sue what can we say, well done for all the amazing things you have achieved, huge admiration and what an inspiration to others, and we wish you every happiness for the future and look forward to receiving our Canal Cruising invite.

If anyone would like further information about the creative writing group, games, book club or children’s group then please email Sue on sue_almond2004@yahoo.co.uk