Fancy learning a little more about us? Spain Buddy was launched in late September 2012 and is part of the Gandy-Draper group… owned, managed and populated by Elle Draper, while also being ably supported by Alan Gandy and an intrepid group of guest writers.
About us
Elle was born in the North of England (York). However she spent most of her childhood on the South Coast where she developed a delicate “Pompey Fishwife” accent that her hubby, Alan, ‘loves’ to hear at volume.
She has a strong background in sales, and has worked in pub management and call centre recruitment, and at senior operation management level in the electronics industry.
Elle is one of those sickeningly chirpy optimistic people, who sees the best in everything and everyone, and while others view their glasses as half full, she sees hers as an opportunity for a top-up of more wine or vodka plus she’ll usually get a round of shots in while she’s waiting. Negativity bores her and bigots, bullies and racists are neither entertained nor tolerated.
Elle loves to organise and is a whizz at project management. Take a quick look in her kitchen drawers, fridge or cupboards and you will see all jars, tins, and ingredients are stored alphabetically by type, and with all labels facing the front. Cutlery all faces the same direction (sharp ends to the left), and as for the books, DVDs, computer games and CDs… well you can guess how that goes.
Microsoft Excel is her favourite computer program, and she runs spreadsheets for everything from client website statistics and project management to shopping lists, telly program scheduling and client databases. She tends to provide the design, writing, customer service and operational side of Gandy-Draper’s businesses… whilst Alan provides the creativity, strategy, technical support, wine, supportive shoulders pats and entertainment.
Elle also provides business support for a number of international clients while wearing a variety of business “hats”. She is a firm believer in the 25 hour eight day working week. She does, however, live in hope of a Euromillions win.
Elle enjoys being the centre of attention, and has been known to sashay into a karaoke bar and belt out her version of “Hanky Panky” by Madonna. The world breathed a sigh of relief in November 2011, however, when Elle hung up her microphone for the last time declaring “life is too short for this cr@p!” She has not picked up a microphone since but has replaced it with more wine instead.
Elle, unsually holding a beer instead of a bucket of wine
About us – summary
All joking aside, Elle works hard to ensure the highest standards of care and quality for her clients. She has managed a Spain web design business since 2006, when she and Alan first moved to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote where they lived the resort life for six years.
In September 2012, they moved to a hillside haven in Llano del Espino, Almería, where they spent four blissful years enjoying the ambient sounds of “El Campo” – horses, goats, chickens, dogs and various other forms of wildlife, not to mention spending time with their three beloved dogs who have now sadly all passed away.
However, as peaceful as that life was – they missed the buzz of being part of a community (plus having shops and bars within a handy distance) and so in July 2016 they ventured into the heart of what is one of Spain’s most beautiful towns – Vélez-Blanco – which is also in Almería. Welcomed immediately with open arms, they are busy making friends with the locals and enjoying everything this idyllic town has to offer. It became apparent very quickly that they had found their “forever home,” and do not foresee a move anywhere else.
They still grieve for their boys – Guido (an independent and snooty Beagador), Pepper (a huge loving dopey bear of a black Labrador) and Billy Boxer (a lanky mental ginger fiend).
They love dogs, good food, good honest chatty company, big belly laughs and a drop or two of vino collapso or vodka.
Elle currently supplies web design services to the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Oman, Mexico and the United States.
But it is Spain Buddy where popularity has evolved. The success of the website has been excellent, and the constantly growing hordes of fans has proved they were right to launch it back in September 2012.
So now you know a little more about me. We operate transparently… no hiding behind a website name for us – if you are talking to Spain Buddy nowadays you are talking to Elle.
