How long have you lived in Tenerife?

It will be 7 years in August this year (2010).

Where do you call home, here or where you were born and why?

No doubt about that, it is Tenerife, definitely because most of my family lives in Tenerife.

Now that you live on a Holiday Island, what is your favourite Holiday destination?

I don’t know really, I’ve never really thought about it.  I suppose it could be Glasgow, because that’s the only place I’ve been since being here.  I do love the Scottish countryside.

Describe your best memory since living in Tenerife?

Oooooohhh! Now you’re asking, lol, I guess it’s going to be when I met my other half, Claire a couple of years ago.  Soppy I know, but it’s probably true.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time (keep it clean)?

Chilling out and doing the bare minimum (I’m lazy like that, lol).

Which is your favourite Tourist Attraction?

The Drago Tree, I just love the town that it’s in.  There is a beautiful church just next to it which has a huge solid gold alter.

Where would you say was the best place to eat and/or drink in Tenerife?

To eat would probably be a little restaurant in Los Abrigos called La Scarpetta.  It is right on the harbour and the seafood they serve is the nicest I’ve ever had.  It is of course all fresh the same day.

To drink well there are so many great bars that I couldn’t single one out.

What has been your biggest challenge since you arrived on the Island?

I would say getting myself established as a cabaret act.  It’s so hard trying to get you’re face known and it took me a long time, I still struggle a little bit, but I think I’m getting there!

Is there something that you would really like to achieve within the next 5 years?

Yeah, I’d love to secure a recording contract.  That would make all the struggling worthwhile.

Tell us something that that few people will know about you?

I have two pet Iguanas, Marcello and Pedro.  You might meet Pedro as he sometimes comes out for a drink with me to The Penny Farthing in Los Cristianos!

How long have you lived in Tenerife?

My wife and I have lived in Tenerife now for 3 years starting out in the north of the island Puerto de la Cruz but work was so quiet up there that we decided a move to the south was in order and we haven’t looked back since.

Where do you call home, here or where you were born and why?

We call Tenerife home because this is where we intend to stay for as long as possible, I was born In Dewsbury West Yorkshire and they don’t get enough sun over there.

Now that you live on a Holiday Island, what is your favourite Holiday destination?

At the moment I don’t have a favourite destination but we are looking at one or two possibilities as we haven’t had a holiday for 10 years.

Describe your best memory since living in Tenerife

This is probably going out on a friend’s boat and seeing the Whales and Dolphins in their natural habitat, also visiting Loro Parque for the first time a few weeks ago.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time (keep it clean!).

I spend a lot of my spare time on the computer, but I also enjoy the odd game of mini golf and watching Liverpool play their matches.

Which is your favourite Tourist Attraction?

Loro Parque as it’s the only attraction that we have been to.

Where would you say was the best place to eat and/or drink in Tenerife?

My favourite place to eat is the Peking Garden on the Parque de La Paz (I like a good Chinese Chicken Curry and chips), drinking wise most bars that have a good atmosphere, we tend to drink in AJ’s Bar in Torviscas quite a lot.

What has been your biggest challenge since you arrived on the Island?

Probably the biggest challenge since arriving in Tenerife was getting established on the circuit as it can be difficult some Artists see you as a threat and will offer no help at all although their are a few that will do whatever they can to help.

Is there something that you would really like to achieve within the next 5 years?

I would like to keep as many bookings as I have at the moment and stay financially stable, my biggest ambition would be to sing at the Grand Ole Opry in America, we will be visiting the states next year so you never know.

Tell us something that that few people will know about you?

I am a published Poet, a qualified painter and decorator and Joiner, appeared on both British and American radio and TV, I sang at the birthday party of Sunny West (Elvis Presley’s bodyguard) and also I have never left Tenerife, died or been bottled in the face, (sorry had to put that as this is some of the rumours that have gone around over the last 3 years).

Thanks, Jesse!  Well it seems like the Tenerife Rumour Mill has been at it again but I can confirm Jesse Garon the Multi Tribute Artist singing Country, Rock and Roll and Elvis (amongst others) is very much alive and well and performing nightly at venues throughout the South of Tenerife.

How long have you lived in Tenerife?

I have been living in Tenerife for 2 and half years now with my husband and pooch.  I used to live on the South coast near Brighton and worked as a freelance photographer and had exhibitions of my digital art work.

Where do you call home, here or where you were born and why?

That’s a difficult question to answer, even though I can’t really imagine moving back to England I can’t really say Tenerife feels quite like home yet, maybe when my Spanish has improved and I have lived here a bit longer then I can say its truly home.

Now that you live on a Holiday Island, what is your favourite Holiday destination?

I haven’t been off the Island since I got here.  I suppose when I do go on holiday it would be nice to go somewhere with green fields and probably cooler, I would say the UK would be my favourite destination.

Describe your best memory since living in Tenerife

This has to be collecting our pooch, Basil from the airport two weeks after we had just moved out here.  It meant that we had finally done it we were now all living in Tenerife – me, my husband and Basil our pooch (Read Basil’s Story of his arrival to Tenerife).

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?  (keep it clean)

Windsurfing, that was one of the reasons we had chosen to live in El Medano as it is very windy, as well of course as it is a very cool place to live!

I now run a site for the rescue doggies of Tenerife which I set up to provide useful information about all things doggie on the island.

We also enjoy walking in the forests in the North of Tenerife it’s a nice change to see some trees when you live on the coast.

Taking photographs and painting murals on the walls of my garden.

Which is your favourite Tourist Attraction?

My favourite tourist attraction are the forests here they are quite incredible.

I also really liked Loro Parque, even though I don’t normally like animal parks because of the way they keep the animals cooped up.  But the animals performing actually look as if they are also having fun.

Where would you say was the best place to eat and/or drink in Tenerife?

So many great places to eat or drink here hard to say, here are a few that I like:

Flash Point El Medano to have a coffee (great coffee) and a good place to hang out when you are deciding what sail to rig up as the cafe it’s just in front of where all the windsurfers launch.

Vertudes in San Isidro traditional Canarian cafe restaurant you can have fish or meat, food is simple though good and it’s inexpensive.

Encuentro, cabezo, near Cabezo Surf shop

What has been your biggest challenge since you arrived on the Island?

Learning the language which is an ongoing task!

Is there something that you would really like to achieve within the next 5 years?

I would like to be still running the Tenerife Dogs site and helping the rescue shelters here, in whatever way I can.

Having a digital art exhibition of combined work, surf/beach images and of course dog images.  I have to find the right venue though, but that is my plan, and producing a dog calendar.

Tell us something that few people will know about you

I suffer from vertigo, not great when you move to a country that involves going up hill a lot of the time!

Wow, how do you fit all that in to each day, Nikki?  It’s great to see that you are settled in Tenerife and that you are able to help the various Rescue Centres with your fantastic Tenerife Dogs Blog.  People, if you haven’t had a look at it yet, give it a try now and sign up to keep up to date with everything that is going on!

Maybe we will be able to persuade Nikki to prepare an article on Wind Surfing for the New Year …

Speaking of which, how will you be celebrating tonight?  Don’t forget to let us know and maybe send a few photos through to us, we could have a New Year in Tenerife Gallery!

How long have you lived in Tenerife?

I have lived in Tenerife for 8 Years now.  But I had previously worked within the tourist industry in various Spanish locations before settling here.

Where do you call home, here or where you were born and why?

There is no doubt, Tenerife is my home.  It’s where I have my house, my job and where I am happily raising my family.  Both of my daughters were born here.

Now that you live on a Holiday Island, what is your favourite Holiday destination?

Mallorca!!!!  Another Spanish Island, I know… but I spent many years there and it is Beautiful.  The people are lovely, the scenery spectacular and the beaches are amazing, the shopping’s fairly good as well!!!  Thailand follows as a close second…

Describe your best memory since living in Tenerife in Tenerife

My Wedding!  My husband and I got married here and we had a fantastic day with all of our family and friends.  It was a great day and of course the weather was perfect!!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?  (keep it clean)

I think this is spending time with my children & catching up with friends.  We may enjoy a few ‘shandies’ on the beach or during the summer we have been known to have the odd camping trip or two up in the pine forest.

Which is your favourite Tourist Attraction?

It has to be the Submarine Safari excursion.  It’s something really unique & fun to do.  The underwater world here is marvellous; the sight of the gigantic stingrays takes my breath away every time.  My children love it as well; it’s such an adventure for them.  Imagine, discovering the depths of the Atlantic without getting a single hair wet!!!

Where would you say was the best place to eat and/or drink in Tenerife?

I love El Jable which is a typical Canarian Restaurant in the town of San Isidro.  For Italian & the best Mojitos on the island I would choose Biancos in the Safari Centre, Las Americas BUT my favourite has to be Balkonen.  It’s a Lebanese restaurant in Playa de Las Americas but they also offer an international menu.  The staff are very welcoming and friendly, food is delicious and it’s great value for money.

What has been your biggest challenge since you arrived on the Island?

Oh, that will be arranging the paperwork for our marriage.  It was a complete nightmare.  We were back & forth countless times from Consulates to town halls.  Having to get every document translated and signed only for the lady in the town hall to tell me “you haven’t got this document”!!  It took around a year just to get the right licenses before we could begin to actually arrange the wedding.

That challenge is followed very closely by the childbirth experience!  Generally not a bad word to say about the care and attention received but why do the medical authorities on this island not believe in pain relief????

Is there something that you would really like to achieve within the next 5 years?

I have been trying very had to get fit over the last 18 months or so.  I feel really well at the moment so thought that the time had come to set myself a bit of a challenge.  A friend & I are planning to do a charity run of 54kms from the National Park of Las Cañadas down to the South East coast.  We have not got a date for this yet (due to injury, not mine!) but it will happen and we will be raising money for the Lions Charity to help the less fortunate children here & in the UK.  I hope that will be a good achievement.

Tell us something that that few people will know about you

I have shared a pint with ZinZan Brooke!  Who?  hahaha

OK, I admit it, Google was my friend!  I had no idea who ZinZan Brooke was (sorry ZinZan).  Angie, thanks for taking part.  I do remember your wedding, it doesn’t seem that long ago, I was surprised when I was searching for a photo to use when it was!

I hope you have enjoyed this interview today, if you have please leave Angie a comment and let her know.

Do you know someone that would like to be interviewed for The Beach, or is there someone that you would like us to ask?  What about the questions, maybe you can think of another question that you would like to be answered – remember you can just let us know using the comments or send us a message using The Beach Contact Page.

How long have you lived in Tenerife?

I have lived in Tenerife for 6 years now (and still say that I should have done it years ago).  For most of that time I have worked as a Sales Consultant for Property Alliance an estate agency based in the South of Tenerife.

Where do you call home, here or where you were born and why?

Tenerife is definitely home for me now it is such a better way of life than the UK

Now that you live on a Holiday Island, what is your favourite Holiday destination?

So far I have tended to visit the other Canary Islands however I am looking forward to a cruise next year.  Everyone that I know who has been on one tells me that they are awesome, so I think its time to give it a go.

Describe your best memory since living in Tenerife?

It just has to be watching England win the rugby world cup, at 7.30 in the morning, drinking Magners cider in Faces Bar, thinking ‘What a great life it is here in Tenerife’. (I was ill for two days mind you, getting over it!!)

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? (keep it clean)

Well, anyone that knows me, knows that I love to socialise, and I love to go exploring this great island (I bet no one has found as many dead end roads as me!!) of course I am always on the lookout for new restaurants to eat in.

Which is your favourite Tourist Attraction?

With so many good ones on the island, it’s so hard to have a favourite, but the Siam Park has got to be one of them.

Where would you say was the best place to eat and/or drink in Tenerife?

I love eating in Paraiso in Valle San Lorenzo (It is the only place I know that can open a 2nd restaurant only 50 metres away from the 1st one and get away with it). and to drink, my local is the Terrace Bar in Amarilla Golf.  They have a great Sunday afternoon with live bands on, so you can listen and chill out in the sunshine.

What has been your biggest challenge since you arrived on the Island?

I am sure almost everyone will agree with me when I say that the hardest thing is learning to slow down and do things the Canarian way (if it happens today, good, if it happens tomorrow even better!!)

Is there something that you would really like to achieve within the next 5 years?

I am currently living in a 4 bedroom town house which is really nice however I would like to be able to move into my own villa, I guess in the role I have I should be able to find something suitable!

I will also eventually do “The Challenge” (this will be a charity run from Mount Teide cable car back to the Terrace Bar on Amarilla Golf – a distance of 54 km).  This is of course if I ever stop damaging my ankles while in training!!  We have our own Group on Facebook strangely enough called The Challenge (please have a look, we always need new sponsors for this worthy cause)

Tell us something that that few people will know about you.

Well, if truth be known my name is Malcolm and I am a workaholic!  But seriously, I do find great pleasure and satisfaction in working together with my clients to locate just the right property for them.  It also makes me the happiest person around, when those clients actually become good friends, out of work hours.

I can vouch for that, I have spoken with several of Malcolm’s clients and without exception they have been very happy with the way they have been treated, no hard sales tactics at all.  As for The Challenge, please do have a look at the Facebook Group and if you are able, pledge your support to Malcolm and the other people involved with the event.

(I hope the people at the Siam Park are reading this, two interviews so far and both, quite independently, say that it is their favourite Tourist Attraction!)

First in the spotlight is a lady called Sue Havenhand, perhaps better known here as Suzy Q!

How long have you lived/did you live in Tenerife?

I have been here for just over 12 years, I moved right after Princess Diana’s tragic death, and watched the funeral here, it was very poignant how everyone stopped their holiday for a couple of hours to pay their respects.

Where do you call home, here or where you were born and why?

Oddly, even after all this time I still call the UK my home.  I refer to UK trips as “going home” and returning to Tenerife as “going back”.  If home is where the heart is, then mine remains in Yorkshire and always will.

Now that you live on a Holiday Island, what is your favourite Holiday destination?

Somewhere WITHOUT sun sand and sea.  I’ve always fancied Greenland, especially at Christmas time.  Or the Swiss Alps, not necessarily to ski, just to tramp around in the snow then have a drinky by a roaring fire.

Describe your best memory since living in Tenerife?

For my 40th birthday a gang of us went on the Thomson Destiny cruise around the Canaries, Madeira and Morocco.  It was just the most fantastic week!  I have very good friends here.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? (keep it clean)

Well in all honesty I don’t have much.  I am out singing 3 or 4 nights per week, I write for The Paper (although it is not being published at this moment in time), I am completely committed to the plight of Live Arico animal refuge and its quest to secure land for a rescue centre, I study Spanish at the language school 2 or 3 afternoons per week, and on top of that I have a home to run and a 9 year old son to look after.  The odd spare weekend afternoon would be spent with my husband and son on the beach.

Which is your favourite Tourist Attraction?

I think Siam Park is just outstanding and I for one feel fortunate that we have it here in Tenerife.  I would love to see Tenerife as a European answer to Florida and the more attractions like this one the better in my opinion.

Where would you say was the best place to eat and/or drink in Tenerife?

As my husband only has one night off per week, it’s very rare for us to go out for a meal, so I haven’t even tried some of the best restaurants here.  One that I love though, and it’s quite close to home too, is the Tapas Restaurant on Golf del Sur.  It has everything, ambience, fantastic views, lovely staff and of course great food.  Love it.

What has been your biggest challenge since you arrived on the Island?

Of course when you first move here it’s difficult to become established as a singer and break into the circuit, so that was a challenge in itself.  This was made easier though by my lifelong friend Mike Carlton, compere of St Eugene’s Bar in San Eugenio.  He really made a lot of in roads for me.

Is there something that you would really like to achieve within the next 5 years?

I am Vice President of Live Arico Animal Protection, a charity which funds a refuge holding some 230 dogs at the moment in unsuitable surroundings.

We have just released 2010 calendars which kick starts a campaign to raise enough money to buy land on which to build a rescue centre and a home for Eugenio who is sleeping in his car at the moment as there are so many dogs in the refuge – there is just no room for him.

We would like to achieve this as soon as possible, I would hope WELL within 5 years.

Tell us something that that few people will know about you.

I have a non life threatening heart condition called Supra Ventricular Tachycardia which sends my heart rate soaring to almost 200 beats per minute for no good reason – it’s like an electrical short circuit if you will.

It happens maybe 5 or 6 times a month, but if its whilst I’m on stage I can’t slow it down myself and it causes a problem as my blood pressure drops very low causing me to go a bit light headed.  It’s a nightmare as I know I need to get off and sort it out, but if I walk off it looks like a big drama, especially if you mention the word heart, as everyone starts panicking, and it’s really no big deal.

Tony Blair had the same thing but had an operation to eradicate the faulty circuit.  I may have to consider this at some point but I’ve managed ok since it started in my teens.  It’s just a nuisance I could do without!!

Well, that’s it for this time.  Thank you, Sue for being our first in the series and for taking time out of what is clearly a very busy schedule that you have.  If you enjoyed this article why not check out where Suzy Q is singing I know you won’t be disappointed, she has a fabulous voice.  If you get chance to speak to her at the Gig let her know you read about her at The Beach in Tenerife.

(If you would like to be considered for inclusion in this series, please leave a comment to let us know and we will get in touch with you)