The attractions of Rhodes extends far beyond the long summer season, as Brett and Gail Redshaw discovered upon making it their home. Brett talks to Richard Webber
“Countless beaches, the beautifully preserved medieval town of Rhodes, numerous castles, friendly locals and delightful landscapes are just some of Rhodes’ charms.
Gail and I adore it here; in fact, I fell in love with the place the first time I visited, way back in 1975. But I never thought I’d end up owning property on the island. After all, it wasn’t until a financial adviser suggested investing in a property abroad to augment my lifestyle that I considered buying overseas.
Initially, we bought in Florida but it got very expensive, what with property taxes, condominium fees and insurance. By the time we sold that in August 2005, we’d already signed on the dotted line for an off-plan property on Rhodes.
In 2007, when we both took early retirement, we began spending long periods abroad. I’d been a business planning manager for Hewlett Packard, while Gail was national accounts manager for Vodafone. But I’d always set my mind on retiring at 55, something I’d achieved.
We usually spend a few months back in the UK, often returning during the summer. Then, we can take advantage of the direct flights, which run between Easter and end of October. Summer in Rhodes can be very hot. July and August this year were sizzling: some days hit the high 40s, and with more than 90 per cent relative humidity, it was very sticky.
Read more in the November issue of Living Abroad Magazine
