Three years ago, after 10 years of stressful living in the UK, a Bexleyheath woman, Anne Ramos, moved her family to sunny Spain. She spoke to HEATHER RAMSDEN about her new life on the Costa del Sol

Anne, a former Bexley College manager, says when they decided to move she and her Spanish husband, Alfonso, decided "enough was enough".

Disillusioned with the British "Yoof culture", high mortgages, council tax and spiralling cost of living and with two sons aged 11 and 13, the Ramos's sold up, gave in their notices and hopped on a plane to Spain.

Anne said: "We chose the Costa del Sol, even though Alfonso is from Tenerife, because employment and business opportunities are greater, winters are mild and the flights are fantastically cheap and frequent.

"Initially we both worked for a British estate agent and were generally appalled at the standard of service given to people wanting to buy property here."

In Spain anyone can be an estate agent and many people work from home or even set up their office in the boot of their car!

So it was in 2003 that Anne and Alfonso decided to set up their own property locators business helping people to relocate to Spain. They opened their office in La Cala de Mijas, and function like the popular UK television programme A Place in the Sun, where clients give them a brief and a budget and they shortlist properties for the clients to look at when they arrive in Spain.

The couple also provide a personal service where they advise clients about all aspects of life in Spain.

Subsequent to starting their business, Anne, a former head of languages at Bexley College, set up what has become a thriving language school for people who live in the area wanting to learn Spanish.

"Once people realised I am a qualified language teacher, they asked me to give them lessons," Anne explained. And it's not just Anne and Alfonso who have settled into the Spanish way of life.

She says their children attend local international schools with Ryan, 16, now taking his GCSEs.

"Initially Ryan did not want to come to Spain but now he loves it and enjoys far more freedom here than we would ever be happy to allow in the UK.

"It is much safer for teenagers to be out at night here.

"My other son, Liam, 14, enjoys going to the gym, playing electric guitar and just hanging around the pool in the summer with all the other kids.

"They have a marvellous opportunity to mix with children of all nationalities and learn about different cultures, as the Costa del Sol is very attractive to all Europeans."

Anne says the family relaxes by enjoying the beauty of the local area which includes the "Spanish Lake District", Viuela.

There is also the Sierra Nevada mountains for winter skiing, Gibraltar for visits to Morrisons, Morocco a 30-minute fast boat ride away, Portugal only a few hours drive away and the beach 10 minutes away.

"Do I miss anything from the UK? Well apart from the obvious, family and friends, I miss the Marks and Spencer Food Hall (especially their Chicken Kiev) and Boots."

"Everything else is available here and the days when you had to bring out suitcases of teabags have long gone."

Anne says Spain has changed considerably since she first went to live there in 1978.

"It still remains a country with a culture of work to live" where Sunday is still a day of rest and public holidays and Holy days are respected.

"We work very hard but balance this with frequent meals out, Sundays on the beach and relaxing evenings on the terrace with a glass of wine.

"Too much indulgence I am afraid! My best friends are a group of women and we call ourselves the Fat Club.

"What do we have in common? We are all trying to lose the weight we have gained since coming to Spain. We meet in the local restaurant for our weigh-in and then have a meal and drinks after.

"The weight loss is slow, but the conversation and wine flows.

If you wish to buy or re-locate to Spain, you can contact Anne on 00 34 952 494 325 or you can visit their website spanishpropertylocators.com