Wondered what lockdown would be like as an expat somewhere sunny? For a snapshot of what thousands of Brits are going through in Spain, retirees John and Diana Greenaway (main picture) share their experiences of being holed up in the Costa del Sol!

Do you think being in Spain made the situation any easier?
Being in total lockdown (with more rigid conditions than the UK) in a beautiful villa in a quiet area with a fabulous warm climate, garden and pool for exercise, and fruit trees for all the vitamins you need has certainly helped make this difficult period more bearable!

How easy has shopping been? Are people sticking to the rules?
We do a shop once a week, which the Spanish government stated must be at shops local to where you live – and there are police checks and hefty fines for people who break the rules. Everyone we know agrees with this. We have lots of fully stocked shops open seven days a week in our area – there has been no panic buying here in Spain. We have been sharing our shopping trips with our neighbours Kevin and Sue, who have lived here for over 15 years. When the lockdown started, lots of firms, including pet food suppliers, pharmacies and opticians, rang to say they were available on-line or by phone.

Had any unexpected upsides to the lockdown?
We have had the time to make our garden look like Kew Gardens, well almost! It helps that the Spanish are super organised at emptying the community skips and garden refuse areas every night. We have also got to know our neighbours and their cooking skills better, not to mention their food likes and dislikes! And we have also been able to spend more time teaching our big white ‘bear’ Ollie new doggie tricks!

How has the expat community been helping people?
WhatsApp and Facebook are used by most businesses in Spain. The ‘Rock the Lockdown’ weekends, a type of on-line festival starring talents from Spain and elsewhere have been a real success. So have events arranged by John Sharples from Dragtastic (formerly a Blue Coat at Pontins), such as bingo, quizzes and Spanish classes. News and updates are available from newspaper websites like Euro Weekly, SUR and Olive Press. Every night at 8pm the Spanish stand outside to clap the wonderful frontline staff and all those working for the public.

Any stand-out memories from the lockdown?
It makes you really proud when the expat community rally around to organise a ‘dog food trip’ to the local rescue centre, which is in difficulty at this time. ‘Help the Aged’ and ‘Age Concern’ have been particularly busy all along the Costa del Sol too. Then there’s the Spanish taxi driver who has been taking people to the hospital free of charge – as a thank you, the hospital organised a party and put some money in an envelope for him!

Has it been hard not seeing your children and family in the UK?
Weekly FaceTiming has helped but having to postpone our eldest daughter Claire-Louise’s wedding has been especially disappointing for us – she was meant to be marrying Ben in June in Italy. And the hen and stag weekends should have been in May here in Spain. Nevertheless, our youngest daughter Jessica, who is maid of honour, is already busy rearranging it all for May 2021.

Post lockdown, what are you really looking forward to doing?
Taking Ollie on his favourite walk, a beautiful 6-km promenade from La Cala de Mijas to Cabopino. We do this with our expat dog-walking friends, Mike, Alison, Chris and Sharon, who we have got to know over the 12 months of living here. We like to stop for drinks and food at the chiringuitos on the beach. Also, shopping in the Miramar and La Canada Shopping centres in Fuengirola and Marbella, enjoying tapas in an old town somewhere and getting out on the golf course!

How has assistance from the Spanish authorities or British consulate been?
The continued support from the authorities has been wonderful, noting Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, Hugh Elliott the UK Ambassador in Spain and Bill Anderson, our local Mijas councillor. They have kept us up to date with English translations of all the ongoing regulations and do’s and don’ts. I also receive legal updates from our lawyer Raquel Perez from Perez Legal Group.

Do you have any advice for people waiting to come out and hunt for a property?
Construction continues here and recent information reveals on-line enquiries are rising for properties with gardens and outside spaces! Keep planning – the Costa del Sol will be open for business again. Bargains may be available, but make sure you find a good lawyer and start getting all your documentation in order nice and early.

Anything to say to holiday homeowners who can’t visit their properties right now?
Although many properties are unoccupied at the moment, the police are watching out for burglars and therefore making everyone living in the urbanisations feel safe. Plus, property management and security companies, as well as gardeners have all continued working throughout the lockdown.