Sally Veall

Born in London but having spent many of her younger years between the UK and Tuscany, Sally gained a taste living abroad at an early age. Having gained her A-levels, she “fell” into journalism, which saw her work as a freelance before changing career direction and studying interior design. She speaks several languages: French, Italian and Spanish which became useful when she moved to northern France in 1996 because of her husband’s work. There she helped him as a translator and also had her own business renovating and decorating rural houses for people from the UK and The Netherlands. In 2000 she moved to south-west France and re-established her property career, often working with Notaires as an independent translator for English-speaking clients. In 2006 she moved to Catalonia in Spain, again due to her husband’s work. At that time she had very little Spanish but quickly learnt it and also attended the local adult college to gain a basic understanding of Catalan. To begin with, she continued to renovate and decorate properties but then an opportunity arose in 2010 to return to writing and since then she has worked for the SpainBuyingGuide as the resident copywriter and freelances for other online websites. She says her aim is to tell the truth about moving to another country and to ease the way for new arrivees. With over 25 years’ experience as a “foreigner living abroad” she understands the joys and hardships of making a new life in another country. Books: Richmond, Surrey, As it Was. 1976  Historical and Archeological Section of the Richmond Society. (John Cloake, John Wright and Sally Albrecht (Veall).) Property:  Spain Buying Guide. Resident copywriter since 2010. Interior Design: Owner of Salvia Decor, Salisbury Wiltshire. Showroom/interior design. Working independently in France from 1996 to 2006 and in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Articles by Sally Veall

Living in the Spanish countryside

With a population of around 46.4 million and an area almost twice the size of Great Britain, Spain really does feel less crowded. However, most of the population is concentrated on the Costas and in major cities, leaving much of the rural interior almost uninhabited. Country houses and fincas within easy reach of the sea and large towns are always sought after and can command high prices. Smaller properties in villages will be much cheaper as will urbanisation’s in the hills behind coastal towns.

Your news roundup from Spain

As the British love affair with the Costa del Sol grows ever stronger, getting there to enjoy your new life in the sun is about to get even easier . That’s not the only good news from Spain.

How to license yourself, and your car, to drive in Spain

Cruising along the paseo maritimo, arm hanging out of the window in the summer sun, sounds of a Mediterranean disco beat blaring out…, who doesn’t love driving in Spain! If you’re out in the countryside it’s a necessity. So we know that many readers have questions on driving in Spain. Such as when do you need a Spanish licence, and can you licence your own British car?

Staying connected when you move to Spain

Buying a property and moving to Spain can be daunting if you have never lived abroad before. One way to help you settle into your new life in Spain is, perhaps surprisingly, to stay connected with family and friends. So long as you can avoid Facebook becoming your security blanket, the internet can be your safety net, giving you the coinfidence to go and explore your new world and community. So how do you connect your phone in Spain? Who are the best internet providers in Spain? And how can you still watch British TV in Spain?

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