Meet Shonagh Hellicar
Meet Shonagh Hellicar
(Benidorm)  CAMBIAMOS-Meet Shonagh Hellicar, a mum of three from Uttoxeter who has lived here on the Costa Blanca since 2005. Co-owner of Hamilton’s Estate Agents in Albir where she helps to run with her husband Nigel who has had an extensive career in Sales & Marketing.  Shonagh juggles her busy work life with an even busier home life, like millions of other working mums. But the difference is, when Shonagh shuts up the shop at the end of the day, there’s so much more of the day to be enjoyed, thanks to the Spanish sunshine and lifestyle.

 

Meet Shonagh Hellicar, a mum of three from Uttoxeter who has lived here on the Costa Blanca since 2005. Co-owner of Hamilton’s Estate Agents in Albir where she helps to run with her husband Nigel who has had an extensive career in Sales & Marketing.  Shonagh juggles her busy work life with an even busier home life, like millions of other working mums. But the difference is, when Shonagh shuts up the shop at the end of the day, there’s so much more of the day to be enjoyed, thanks to the Spanish sunshine and lifestyle.

 Unlike many ex-pats who lived in busy built up areas of the UK and craved for a more peaceful life in Spain, Shonagh and Nigel already had the peaceful life; they resided in a farming village in Staffordshire where their three boys attended the local school and a night on the town was an amble to the local pub. So what did Spain have that their life in the UK didn’t?
“Freedom for the children and a better family lifestyle” answers Shonagh thoughtfully.
“I love the way life is lived outdoors, the fact that the shops don’t open on a Sunday and instead it’s a day spent with family and I hope that never changes”.

Shonagh and Nigel enjoyed summer holidays at Nigel’s parent’s villa in Altea for many years before they decided to set up home here.
Nigel’s dream of moving to Spain  “became more of a reality when Nigel’s father Derek became ill and they felt the time was right to make the move.  It was on the last night of our summer holiday that we went to the beach at La Olla to watch the famous firework display and as we sat drinking our wine the children played on the beach we knew this is where we wanted us all to be’, and from that moment we planned to move over as soon as we could”.

That was nearly five years ago, and the family have never looked back. But surely it hasn’t all been plain sailing?
“It was far from plain sailing” confirms Shonagh. “The first week here was a nightmare! The weather was awful & cold, there was a terrible storm and the house was struck by lightning which blew all our electric, we lost the TV, the computer – even the hoover! The boys couldn’t email friends anyone and I thought “What are we doing here? But you get through it and now we laugh about it”.

Lightning storms aside, Shonagh and Nigel’s biggest worry was how the boys would adapt.
“At the time, Jamie, our eldest was 12, Charlie was 10 and Harry 8. We knew we couldn’t leave the move another few years and run the risk of Jamie not wanting to come and above all we want the family together. But I really struggled with the decision of what school to send them to. My instincts told me this was to be their home and they would be growing up here, therefore they should go to the local Spanish school. But as a mother, I was proposing they do something I knew I personally wouldn’t want to do. It was very hard, but in the end I trusted my instincts and we put them into  ocal Spanish schools, I am so glad we did. The school was, I mean IS, wonderful. They gave the boys extra back up tutoring to help them with their Spanish and now all three are fluent and correcting my Spanish!”.

Taking place at the Hamiltons office in Albir the interview is constantly interrupted by a steady flow of prospective clients and satisfied ones and it soon becomes obvious that Shonagh is as much a sympathetic ear to many of these people as their estate agent.
“You have to be” says Shonagh. “When people buy a place here, it has to be right for them, it’s such a huge move & big culture change, which is why we often suggest to our clients that they rent first – to make sure this is really where they want to be”.  If they’re happy they’ll come back and may buy from us” she adds quietly and confidently. “It’s not all about the money, its about the quality of service that we try to give”.

And judging by the happy faces of those popping in – some just to say ‘Hi’ – Shonagh is often required to go the extra mile, helping newcomers with everything from registering  at the doctors to signing up for football club.  “It make sense” says Shonagh “I’ve just done all these things myself so know the procedures and its all part of our service” she adds with a smile.
Any regrets?
“NONE WHATSOEVER – or maybe we should have done it sooner!. To give our children a second language, to watch them mix with children from so many different countries, with so many different religions and cultures is something they just could have not have experienced in the UK and it could take them so far in the future. They have the very best of both worlds. Harry loves sports and plays football & handball with his Spanish friends and cricket in Albir with the English, for example, and the older ones go to the cinema with their friends, which I feel is safe to let them do here. The whole family leads such a busy outdoor life, my biggest problem is barbeque-ing enough food to keep up with their huge appetites! 

Any advice for wannabe Ex-Pats?
Looking pensive Shonagh says “Don’t expect too much too quickly. Be thankful for the British products you can buy here – don’t focus on what you can’t. Accept it Spain for all that it is – its not England with sun! it is a different country with different culture and language but if you make the effort to integrate the Spaniards will take you into their hearts”. Wise words indeed.
If you want Shonagh and Nigel’s help in finding your perfect property, either to rent or to buy, you can call them at Hamiltons on 96 686 5609 or go to www.albir-hamiltons.com

» MULTIMEDIA :

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partying on the terrace
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play time
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Shonagh Hellicar

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Work Time

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