Blogs: Jack shares his experiences since moving to Gibraltar

Jack has finished his degree. He has recently moved to sunny Spain to pursue his career.

Quite a change, eh? Just a cheeky 4,000 miles, different language and lifestyle. Saying there have been just a few minor tweaks to my life in the last four weeks would be something of an understatement. But apart from that, people will look at the basics and see I'm still working for a bookmaker and as big a racing enthusiast as ever.

It still hasn't fully sunk in to be honest, I am typing this in the BetVictor/Victor Chandler HQ, surrounded by the hub of traders, programmers, odds compilers, marketers, and so on, yet I still feel like I am on some form of work experience, and I will be inevitably going home soon. But I am not.

The last two weeks in Huddersfield were similar, I couldn't really say goodbye to everyone because it still didn't feel like I was leaving, you know? My notice with Coral finished on 4th July - ironically enough Independence Day. Fitting, but purely coincidental.

After that I had ten days to cram in as many chores as I could. Me being me, it wasn't as smooth or as efficient as I would have liked it to have been, but my life the way it is, that was somewhat inevitable. I spent my final weekend in London, at Sandown Park, watching the racing, as you do. But it all felt a bit empty in all honesty, and still, nearly a month later, I can't put my finger on it.

I left in a rush and, like I said, I wasn't able to say goodbye to everyone. A bunch of some of my very best friends were on holiday, and were due to come back the day before I was flying, so I was looking forward to bidding them farewell, leaving on good terms and having a bit of a do. But my flight was changed, without me being asked or consulted, to the day before, meaning no send off for JJMSports.

That, coupled with the way things were left at Coral - even though my new venture in the Mediterranean is quite lovely, and everything going rather swimmingly thus far (touch wood) - the homesickness has already kicked in, and although not as bad as the first week, it still lurks like a bad stench. Like I said in previous blogs, I had it made in England - easy life, did what I wanted when I wanted, was care-free. It was almost idealistic.

The freedom of living in Huddersfield has all but gone and my old persona has now been replaced by an almost professional adult me. Which is good, I guess? I mean, I had to grow up some time I suppose, I just thought I would be able to ease into it, rather than being thrown straight in the deep end.

Menial tasks, such as shopping for pillows, going to the supermarket (around a two-hour round trip) is really grim, carrying heavy bags in the hot sun, whilst crossing an international border. But hey ho, if I had the chance, would I go back to Huddersfield? At the moment, I am leaning 60/40 towards no.

I plan to go back next month to watch the greatest racehorse in the world; Frankel, and make a good week of it. Only a plane ride away, not that bad, eh? Grow up JJM!

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner