Thanks Claire,
Will add you on facebook later when I have time. Will give uploading some photos a go here too because I haven't got many of Luis on Facebook. Always felt a bit funny about putting photos of him on there because DH always freaks out about things like that. Now I've given up telling him!!!

Wow Katie we do have a lot in common. Yes Luis dad is Spanish, weve been together 7 years now. It does get really lonely, your right with family and friends being back in the UK. I don't think I could stand to be here at Christmas though because DH always works so it would be a pretty lonely occasions because my parent wont come here.
Do you speak Italian? Don't worry its not sad not having many friends, its hard to reach out to other people sometimes.

Kelly, yes I do speak Italian and I've been here for about 12 years now but it doesn't get much easier - if we end up staying here permanently I don't doubt that I will always be homesick. My dh works christmas too, it's shitty - which is great that my mum is coming -she does come a lot, I am lucky in that sense. Why won't your parents come out? How long have you lived there?
Is Luis bilingual? Sorry for all the questions! we are bringing Jacob (20 months) up bilingual, what's your experience of it?

I've lived here about 8 years now and I do speak Spanish. We are bringing Luis up bilingual and he seems to have picked up both languages really well. He does sometimes speak to me in Spanish because it is the most dominant language living over here but I just remind him to speak to mummy in English and he usually says what he wants again in English. I know what you mean about always being homesick I think I will always feel the same too but like you at the moment Gran Canaria is the best place for us.
My parents do visit occasionally, they have started to come out for a week each year on Luis birthday but are always complaining about how expensive it is to get here and there not the sort of people to stay in cheap apartments either. Then there's the comments about if we lived on the mainland it would be a lot cheaper and they would be able to come more often or if we had a bigger apartment they could stay with us etc. etc.
How Jacob doing with 2 languages, I remember when Luis was a baby someone telling me not to expect him to say too much before hes 2 because it takes them longer when learning to talk in more than 1 language but I didn't find Luis had any problems.

Kelly, I have heard the same things about being slow with language but Jacob hasn't had any problems either - he understands both languages perfectly but most of the words he uses are English because he's with me all the time and whatever he sees on TV I make sure is in English - we can get everything in original language which is great. I'm not worried about him not speaking Italian yet, because I know that it will come when he goes to nursery/school, and then we will need to work more on his English.
I would have thought you could get cheap charters to Gran Canaria - bummer that your parents have to spend so much. We can get ryanair flights to Stansted from here which is a blessing but not always as cheap as I would like!

Luis started speaking more English first too being with me most of the time and like you I also put the TV in English, then he went to nursery and the Spanish developed really quickly. He goes to the British School where I work now so he has a good balance I think.

You teach English too? I'm an EFL teacher too! Or was, until Jacob was born, now I just do a few private lessons and translations. That's great that Luis is at the British School, there isn't a lot of choice of international schools where we live, I live in hope that he will go to school in the UK!

Yes Katie, Ive been doing it just over 2 years now and love it. Its full time so looking after Luis as well is a lot of work, but before I started I wasnt doing a lot. I also felt really home sick as you seem to be and couldnt see any way forward, always longing to go back to the UK. Now I am in more of a routine and a lot of my time is filled up so on that side of things I feel a lot better. Have you thought about getting back to work? I know Its hard to find a job you love in a country thats not your own, I feel really lucky to have found mine. Maybe it would help you feel a little less home sick if you find other things to keep you busy. I still feel home sick at times because all my family and most my friends are back in the UK so I know how your feeling so any time you need a chat you know where to find me. Im also on Facebook my email to find me, if you like is kellyjade25@gmail.com. Hope your having a good day today.

I really enjoyed it too Kelly, working in a school is so much nicer than doing private work. I also worked at the British School! I miss it in a way but at the moment I would prefer to be at home with Jacob. I'm homesick for the same reasons you are - everyone's there and I'm here! Well, except for the most important people, dh and jacob of course! I find this time of year hard because of it not being christmassy! I think it's warmer where you are though?

Welcome back, Kelly. I've thought of you often and wondered how you were doing. I'm glad you feel at home here. I disappear sometimes, too, but always know I can come back and feel like I never left.

Is around 25-28 degrees C during the day at the minute so still quite warm. Its nice that the temp has dropped in the evenings and you can get away with wearing jeans and not sweat! Its just not the same as having to wrap up warm at Christmas like you do at home.

You hit the nail on the head there!! I love the fact I have you all to talk to. Its strange to feel like you really know and can trust people you haven't even met.