The Ultimate Homes Blog

As opposed to the BIG headlines being made as rates were moving up, ths news that the Euribor interest rate, used for the setting of most mortgages, continues to fall and will end November at 4.6%, seems to pass by unnoticed. It does mean that those mortgage repayments will come down just a little bit.

The Costa Blanca has overtaken the Balearic Islands and the Canaries as the main tourist destination for Spaniards this October, when more than 153,000 people chose hotels on the Alicante coast for a holiday break at the beach last month. Información newspaper said the numbers from the National Statistics Institute also put the province ahead of other popular destinations such as the Costa del Sol and the Costa Daurada. It follows high numbers reported this summer, when 600,000 Spaniards spent their holidays on the Costa Blanca in July and August, with figures reported to be greater than those for hotels in Madrid and Barcelona combined. It may come as a surprise to many yet Benidorm was the most popular destination on the Alicante coast with Spaniards.

I am off to hospital tomorrow (yes that is a Saturday), and I want to compliment the Spanish health service. Having enjoyed (not sure if that's a true description at my agonising efforts) six-a-side football in the Spring, I seemed to have developed a slight hernia problem. Having been diagnosed shortly afterwards and after several scans up until June, I was told to expect an appointment after the Summer. Come the end of September, I duly received a letter informing me that as part of the Valencia Community's plan to reduce waiting lists, I had the choice to attend a private hospital at their full expense if I so wished, or I could stay on the list - no-brainer. Just over four weeks later and I will be under the knife tommorrow morning. Hopefully my recovery will be as quick as Michael Owen who was back playing for England after his hernia operation a few weeks ago. No need for the get well cards ok.