I was 3 months in the canaries and I went home for the christmas where my father came out with the lines.
*You put on some weight out there*
Not a line I was used to. I had always been trim and I played alot of football. Even in the Canaries I had played alot of football. I did indeed sport a sort of muffin top that had appeared on me which was not ideal but I hadn't really changed my life style apart from eating hotel food. But I normally ate what I wanted and it didn't affect me before so it wasn't the meals.  I never eat until 2 in the afternoon and I would have something light. Then at 7pm I would go all in and eat everything in sight. I was still doing this so what else was I doing. Then I realised, it was the coffee I started drinking.
![leche-leche-coffee-in-gran-canaria.jpg](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmZtyqoEzi9pJxZtmXaAq4VVMaF1XKL6y9yxq7bL4uSLca)

My sister and I never were into hot drinks when we grew up but when I hit Spain I did start drinking coffee. Everyone smoked and I needed something so I started drinking coffee. But not just any coffee. The Canarian coffee was called *leche leche*. Lots of people correct me and say *Cafe con leche* but I wasn't. It was called *Leche leche* (milk milk). So I used to drink 3 a day and this is what was the major contributor to the weight gain. I found out that they used condensed milk instead of the normal stuff to make the coffee and it was extra sweet. A Spanish colleague from Madrid knew of this Canarian latte and he said he was surprised I didn't get diabetes also. So I had to give up my beloved leche leche cafe. 
I went back to the hotel cafeine craved and tired. I went upstairs to the restaurant and had a steak. I was the only one in the restarant. It was a quiet January and not many guests were staying. I was reading a book waiting for my meal and I caught sight of Diego Forlan , the Athletico Madrid midfielder. Then I saw Thaigo and I realised Athletico Madrid were actually staying in the hotel. I went down a lift with David De Gea (Goalkeeper now at Manchester United)  and found that he was very slight. I love football so my mouth was open looking at one of the best teams in Spain pass me by. After dinner I went up to the pool and Jose Antonio Reyes was up there. I said hello and he asked me where I was from. We had a chat and this guy played in England for the rivals so I was quick to point that out. The next day they played Las Palmas in the cup and hammered them as expected. ![Screen Shot 2018-11-06 at 23.50.51.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmQkASpYMqvNNSo2ZDKxbgQxoxh3s9jacJRpcDYRBoWgeb).
 At that stage I was learning the language and making friends and my boss was eager to keep me down there. It was a tough job because I had to order stock a month in advance. The delivery left Rotterdam and would take 3 weeks to get to port. Once in port it would take a week to clear customs so orders had to be slick and sharp. My boss basically said he would only visit once a month and that all I had to do was say the words and I would have the position. This was huge for me as I had to make up my mind where I wanted to go. It was paradise down here and when my mother and sister arrived for a visit my mother knew I was happy and she was encouraging me to take it. 
Before I went I was going out with Aoife for 4 years so I was keen to get home. But on the other side if it didn't work out with Aoife then I would of regretted my decision for the rest of my life to come home but as most of you know it was the right decision in the end. ![43743502_10157812640577926_3063656006811648000_n.jpg](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmTGBpzje26soKtVXtLPXPpb1au7kxGsZ1gcuNoLjEoUzX)



A year in paradise was enough.  I could of done with 5 but us Irish love a bit of misery and I hadn't had a cold winter in  two years. Also Ireland had effectively gone bankrupt from the Lehman brothers collapse and the nation was in big trouble. There was alot of uncertainty. Reading an Irish paper on a beach made me miss home. Everyone was worried. I needed to come home for a while and show my face. The guys in work held a going away party for me. The Spanish love to dance like myself but they are way better at it. 
![Screen Shot 2018-11-07 at 00.08.33.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmUUAM5CdNxrXhTJiNrNmTDDVE6K5dwjmU5joaf7woLr8s)

My time in Spain had come to an end. I came home with lots of memories and 2 stone heavier but I really enjoyed every minute of it. I was home a week and I was called to head office. 
*You did a great job in Spain and thank you but we have a bigger challenge for you now. We are opening in Germany!!! Would you consider it??*
 FML.