CAVE LIFESTYLE . . . MANANA

"It all happens tomorrow doesn't it?" The Spanish, in particular those from the small Andalusian villages are famous for their laid back lifestyle and the mañana attitude. Sometimes frustrating and at other times pleasantly surprising, it does take some getting used to.

Mañana literally means tomorrow, but it can feel like tomorrow will never arrive. When a Spaniard says to you, "I'll be here mañana to fix it" it does not necessarily mean that he'll be here tomorrow but sometime in the near (or not) future. Great in the beginning when you need to pay someone, but slightly annoying when, like us you are waiting for your own water supply or an installation of electricity which took one and three months respectively.

Often you will here mañana accompanied by a general wave of the hand, in this case don't hold your breath.. They may however surprise you and turn up at 8:00 am the next morning while you are still in bed or at an equally inappropriate time like 9:00 pm the same evening when you've just stepped into the shower or are collapsing into bed after a day of preparing trenches or wall channels just in case they do turn up tomorrow!

If you need to pay a tradesman who has this attitude it can be extremely difficult sometimes. If you have a tight budget it can be a nightmare as often they don't know the price in the first place even though they have been doing that particular job for years. If you are new to the area and don't know the person concerned, it is important to get a written quote or proper contract drawn up before you part with any money or let them start work. Just because you live in a sleepy little village doesn't mean that someone won't try it on and the reality is that people can get stung.

From our own experiences, we have found that local tradesmen and business owners are generally trustworthy, if not a little unreliable. After all, they appreciate the amount of new business they are likely to get from us Brits moving to the area.

In the September of our first year we were finally able to afford a new front door and a sofa bed so they were duly ordered. No-one wanted paying until the goods were delivered, just as well we put the money in an envelope out of sight because at 8:00 pm on New Years Eve they both turned up within half an hour of each other. Even then we still had to force the money onto them because after a celebratory glass of tinto, they were insisting, "el año que viene - next year." Imagine!!

It is worthwhile trying to get to know a certain plumber, electrician or builders merchant etc who you will come to trust and use regularly as it makes life much easier even if they never turn up when they say they will. These people know their job, the area and how things work here inside out so it is worth persevering with them as they are a wealth of local knowledge. Plus it is always nice to be invited for a coffee on a cold February morning by your local plumber just because he likes you and thinks you are as reliable and trustworthy as he is . . .