Viva España - September 2005

It was almost four years ago that Ana and Robert Fischel decided to move from Surrey to Spain, packing up their two-year-old daughter Isabella to head to Andalucia. Robert, a QC, had suffered six months of ill health brought on by the pressures of work. The effects were devastating, prompting the couple to seek a complete lifestyle change, away from the rigours of the rat race, in a more tranquil family environment. They chose Spain.

“Robert wanted to move to France and I preferred Italy - so we compromised and decided to look at Spain,” explains Ana.

The Fischels concentrated their search around Andalucia and were immediately struck by the beauty and diversity of the landscape, not to mention the relaxed pace of family-orientated life. They concentrated on viewing large, unusual properties that had the potential for easy conversion into small hotels. Each needed to provide writer Ana with plenty of inspiration while offering Isabella space in which to roam Andalucia’s great outdoors. “We didn’t view a long succession of properties as we were looking for something unique and very specific,” Ana explains. “We’d heard about Robert Germaux (from Fincas Germaux of Benahavis) from the recommendation of a friend of the family. After looking at his website we booked a flight to Spain to take a look at property first-hand.”

What caught their eye was a stunning converted river mill, set in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja mountains. It is just a five minute drive from a sandy beach and is equipped with six large bedrooms, each with a private terrace or balcony and an en suite bathroom, four of which contain antique marble baths. Other features include a huge sitting room, large dining room, library and study area as well as extensive cultivated gardens, fountains and various outdoor ‘rooms’ plus a good-sized swimming pool.

“We fell in love with it immediately and knew we’d found the perfect place, surrounded by palm trees and stunning gardens,” explains Ana. “It not only provides wonderful inspiration for the children’s books I have been working on, it is also a magnificent place for Isabella to enjoy her formative years. She’s so happy here, running free in the space and beauty. So am I - in fact I’ve never felt so content and so inspired. The positive effect this has had on my work has been incredible.”

Robert and Ana decided to buy El Molino on the spot, negotiating a reduced price of 400 000 from the original 500 000 due to the amount of time it had been on the market. This price included the majority of the furniture, most of which were exquisite antiques.

“Our move as a family was pretty straightforward and we didn’t have any concerns about Isabella adapting to Spanish life. That she was just two years old was a great help in this respect. We were confident that she would find it relatively easy to settle in and decided on local Spanish schooling. She was immediately happy here and we had no doubt that she would eventually become bilingual,” Robert explains.

Ana agrees: “More often than not the biggest stumbling block when moving to another country is an unfamiliar language. Robert and I were determined to learn Spanish and now get by adequately. However, aged five Isabella puts us both to shame with a confident fluency that allows her to chatter away to all of our Spanish neighbours.”

This seamless move abroad by a young child is typical of many relocation stories, according to international relocation consultant Richard Haines. “Children under five rarely experience any stress of trauma from a major move overseas,” he explains. “In many ways this is the optimum age for relocation as stress, anxiety and alienation are less likely to prove a problem - and the child is more likely to pick up on the positives than the negatives of the new situation.”

Spain ’s close-knit communities and family-friendly traditions can also be a boon to families on the move. Ana Fischel is in no doubt that this strong sense of family and kinship is advantageous to her own family unit.

“The Spanish culture here is so much more family-orientated than in the UK,” continues Ana. “The lifestyle is healthier and Isabella benefits from spending a lot of time out in the fresh country air where there is very little pollution. Our quality of life as a family has changed for the better. We’re happier, healthier and spend more time together. Whereas in the UK we were lucky to grab a few rushed hours together in the evening, here things are very different. As a family I really do believe we’ve found the perfect lifestyle balence.”

Ana Fischel is the author of The Zartarbia Tales, a series of seven adventure and fantasy books aimed at older children. The first sold 5,000 copies in just 14 days. Book Two - Isabella Zophie and the Hotel Gastronomic - was published in May 2005. Visit www.zartarbia .com to find out more.