Interview: Bev and Dave Townsend
We’ve known Bev and Dave Townsend for a few years now, and they’ve always supported Spain Buddy. Although not full time residents of Spain, they passionately promote it at every opportunity. If you’d like to be featured, click the link under the article… but in the meantime, enjoy finding out more about Bev and Dave Townsend.
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Bev & Dave Townsend
When did you move to Spain, and where from?
We live most of our time in Norfolk (east of England) but have another home in south Costa Blanca which we purchased in 2006.
Who came with you?
Usually there are just the two of us when we are in Spain but the house has three bedrooms so family or friends can join us.
Where in Spain do you live now?
Our second home is in Playa Flamenca, south Costa Blanca.
What things (apart from loved ones) do you miss from your country of birth?
As we travel between the two we get to still spend time with our family in the UK. We have three grown up children and four grandchildren (so far!) all living locally to us in Norwich so we would really miss them if we were fulltime in Spain.
Do you work? As what?
Dave still has a regular job alongside our business. We run Spanish Dream Property, finding Spanish homes for those relocating, investing or looking for a second home. We offer a bespoke service, free to our clients, for north and south Costa Blanca plus the Mar Menor area, up to around 20 minutes drive from the coast.
How are you with speaking Spanish?
Bev learnt Spanish at school so has some basics but gets frustrated at not getting much chance to use it. Very much a case of understanding both written and spoken Spanish far more than being able to write or speak it these days. Time factors mean the planned re-start of Spanish lessons just hasn’t happened. Dave is good at ordering food and beer! So guessing if you were to do a school report on the subject it would be the classic comment of ‘Could do better’.
If you could change anything about Spain… what would that be? And why?
Get rid of the ex pats that refuse point blank to engage in the Spanish way of life then moan about Spain, Spanish people, Spanish food and Spanish culture! Oh, and the ones that live illegally in Spain and think the laws of both UK and Spain doesn’t apply to them. (Regular rant of ours!)
What are the best things about living in Spain?
The sunshine, the Spanish people, the relaxed lifestyle and the attitude to family life.
What are your favourite Spanish dishes?
Well a proper paella has to be included of course! Love a lot of the tapas dishes we find in little bars tucked away in the back streets of towns. The fresh fish and the fact that the meat has real flavour. The wonderful array of fresh fruit and veg. We eat so much more healthily when in Spain. We like food generally so couldn’t possibly choose just one dish!
What is the predominant nationality of your friends in Spain?
Where we live is very international – neighbours are Norwegian, Spanish, English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Russian, Belgium and French. So we have more of an EU feel to the area than Spanish.
If you won the Euromilliones – would you still live where you currently are? Why / why not?
No. We would split our time more evenly between the countries. Also buy a property in a more traditionally Spanish area as we would not have to rent it to holiday makers.
If a movie was made about your life – who would play you? Why?
Meryl Streep to play Bev definitely, she is a great actress and Bev has always wanted to be tall (is only 5’1″) with long blonde hair (Bev has shortish dark hair – well grey now but hair dye is a wonderful invention!) Dave suggested Mel Gibson but Peter Kay is propably a closer match!
If you had to describe yourself as a cocktail… what would you be, and why?
We will go for sharing ‘sex on the beach’!!! Why is left to your own imagination….
Right – now is the chance to tell us all about your business/website/blog if you have one (or more of course).
Our property finding business is Spanish Dream Property
As we also rent out our house in Playa Flamenca we have a separate site www.house-by-the-pool.com
Bev has a blog https://spanishdreamproperty.wordpress.com
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
