Majorca Mallorca

In this episode, Vicki sits down with Bronwen Griffiths, president of Cancer Support Mallorca, to talk about her remarkable life in Spain and the charity’s work supporting people affected by cancer on the island. Bronwen shares how she moved from the UK to Spain in her twenties, built a life across Menorca and Mallorca, spent decades teaching at Bellver International College, and eventually stepped into one of the island’s most important volunteer roles. Together, they discuss language, belonging, paperwork, healthcare, family life abroad, and why nobody facing cancer in Mallorca should feel they have to do it alone.

What happens when you move to Spain in your twenties for love, build a life on the islands, raise a family, teach generations of children, and then find yourself leading one of Mallorca’s most important charities?
In this episode of Majorca Mallorca, Vicki talks to Bronwen Griffiths, president of Cancer Support Mallorca, about her 50 years in Spain, her life between Menorca and Mallorca, and the work the charity does for people facing cancer far from home.
Bronwen talks about arriving in Spain in a very different era, learning the language from scratch, adapting to island life, and spending 32 years teaching at Bellver International College. She also explains how Cancer Support Mallorca helps patients and families navigate one of the hardest experiences life can throw at them.
They discuss practical support, hospital appointments, translation help, counselling, nutrition, wigs, transport, end of life planning, volunteering, and the realities of private versus public healthcare in Spain. It is a warm, honest and deeply useful conversation for anyone living in Mallorca, especially those who may one day need help, or want to offer it.
In this episode:
Bronwen’s journey from London to Spain
Life in Menorca and Mallorca in the 1970s and 80s
Learning Spanish and finding your place abroad
32 years at Bellver International College
What Cancer Support Mallorca actually does
Why paperwork matters so much in Spain
The difference between private and public healthcare in serious illness
Volunteering, fundraising and community support on the island

Useful links
Cancer Support Mallorca
cancersupportmallorca.com
Contact Cancer Support Mallorca
[email protected]
WhatsApp: +34 659 887 455
Cancer Support Mallorca publicly lists support including patient drop-in centres, emotional support, nutrition advice, translators, transport, practical help, oncology materials and volunteer programmes.
00:00 Intro
04:06 How long Bronwen has been in Spain and Mallorca
04:39 Leaving the UK at 23 after a holiday romance
05:23 Life in Menorca, hotel work and moving around Spain
07:44 Being a young British woman in Menorca in the 1970s
10:08 Learning Spanish and settling into island life
12:08 Leaving teaching in the UK behind
13:20 Family, friendship and community in Spain
16:00 Returning to teaching at Bellver International College
18:27 Retirement, daughters and grandchildren
20:00 Raising bilingual children
22:00 Why making the effort with language matters
25:00 Taking over Cancer Support Mallorca
26:14 How the group began
27:25 What Cancer Support Mallorca actually does
29:21 Nutrition, counselling and buddy support
32:42 Living through cancer and speaking openly about fear
34:00 End of life planning and practical help for families
36:34 Funding, volunteers and how the charity runs
39:53 Hospital drop-in centres and awareness
41:02 Wigs, scarves and support materials
42:11 The art group and knitting group
43:00 Fundraising and the annual walk
46:54 How many patients are being supported now
47:20 Private versus public healthcare in Mallorca
50:00 Why getting your paperwork in order matters
55:00 Helping patients navigate bureaucracy
56:51 The future of the charity and volunteering
58:38 Who volunteers and how the organisation works
01:00:34 Where to find Cancer Support Mallorca

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You can email MM on [email protected]

Oliver sits down with Nick Brown, a regular in the Majorca Mallorca community known for translating complicated rules into plain English, to unpack what is changing at Europe’s borders.
They cover the Entry/Exit System (EES) kiosks and biometrics, how the Schengen 90 days in any 180 days rule actually works, what could cause longer queues at Palma, and the practical stuff people can do to reduce stress when arriving or departing.
They also break down ETIAS, why scam websites are already appearing, and a separate but related headache: the UK’s ETA rules, especially for British dual nationals travelling on non-UK passports.
Key takeaways for listeners
EES is the “at the border” change: biometric registration and electronic tracking replace the old stamp logic for most non-EU short-stay travellers.
90/180 is rolling, no reset: it is not “90 then one day out then 90 again”, it is “are you over 90 of the last 180 days, today?”.
Queues may be worse before they are better, especially at busy regional airports in peak season, because first-time registration takes longer and needs staffing.
ETIAS is not live yet: the EU’s official position is that it will start in the last quarter of 2026 and travellers do not need to do anything now.
UK ETA is now enforced for people who need it, and costs £16 via the official route.
Beware paid “application services” and fake sites, especially for ETIAS, since it is not even open yet.

Mentioned in the episode
EU official Travel to Europe pages: EES and ETIAS (what they are, and current status)
European Commission explainer: EES vs ETIAS differences
UK Government guidance: Apply for a UK ETA, cost, what it does and does not do
UK Government announcement on ETA enforcement (25 Feb 2026)
Banco de Alimentos de Mallorca, donation options (as referenced by Nick)
Brits in Spain Facebook page, run by the British Embassy in Madrid (referenced in the discussion)

EU EES (official): https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees
EU ETIAS (official): https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias
European Commission: EES vs ETIAS explainer: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/ees-vs-etias-main-differences-know-travellers-2026-01-29_en
UK ETA apply (official): https://www.gov.uk/eta
UK ETA enforcement news release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enforces-digital-permission-to-travel
Banco de Alimentos de Mallorca (donations): https://www.bancodealimentosdemallorca.org/donativos
Brits in Spain (British Embassy Madrid): https://www.facebook.com/BritsInSpain/
....and some links from Nick.
Work out how long you can stay with this spreadsheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wTSpknDO0azRvEa_JQvCTJ_W3iMBafySYi9p3i6KvYw/edit?gid=1766127169#gid=1766127169
...help him to help local charities while getting a personally guided tour of Palma from the man himself.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563615153343

Mallorca Restaurant Week is live, and despite the name, it’s five weeks long.
We’re joined in the studio by Anna Ruiz Alvaro and Mia Narpta, the team behind Mallorca Restaurant Week, to share what’s new for this edition, why the event focuses on the low season, and how it brings together restaurants, producers, hotels, and partners across the island.
We talk about:
When it runs, and why the timing matters
How restaurants are chosen, beyond Michelin stars
The local produce commitment, and why it’s part of the point
What you can book, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails
How feedback leads to end of event recognitions
A few suggestions to get you started, from Japanese spots to veggie picks

Book through the official site and explore the list of restaurants and menus. Links are in the show notes.
Show notes
Guests
Anna Ruiz Alvaro, Mallorca Restaurant Week
Mia Narpta, Mallorca Restaurant Week

What you’ll hear
Mallorca Restaurant Week starts now and runs until 31 March, with a closing party on 30 March at Tabana
Over 50 restaurants participating, with more joining during the run
Why it’s designed for low season, to support restaurants and extend the season
The focus on local produce and the island’s food ecosystem
How booking works, and how feedback is collected
Names mentioned in conversation include Mark Fosh, Voro, DINS Santi Taura, Adrián Quetglas, Andreu Genestra, Aromata, and others

Mentions from the conversation
Restaurant Week website: restaurant-week.es
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantweekes/

MallorcaRestaurantWeek, RestaurantWeekMallorca, PalmaDeMallorca, MallorcaFood, MallorcaRestaurants, MallorcaLife, EatLocalMallorca, Km0, SlowFoodMallorca, VisitMallorca, FoodiesMallorca, PalmaFood

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the Mallorca Mallorca Podcast. This week, Soller Shirley joins Vicki in the studio for a wide-ranging winter chat, starting with festive downtime, sea walks, and why the quiet season can be the most grounding time to live in Mallorca.
From there, we dive into one of the island’s most loved winter traditions, Sant Antoni in Sóller, from bonfires and barbecues to demonis, the blessing of the animals, and the surprisingly surreal horse races that take place right in the middle of town.
Along the way, the conversation moves into something deeper too, the difference between the postcard version of Mallorca and the year-round reality, the cost of living, subsidies, and the voices we do not always hear, especially from the immigrant communities who keep the island running.
And yes, there’s a delicious detour into Bhukkad Boca, the new Punjabi and South African-inspired neighbourhood bar in Palma.
What you’ll hear about
The joy of the “between Christmas and New Year” quiet days
Winter rituals, sea walks, slow season routines, and the comfort of familiarity
Why Repic and Port de Sóller feel like a safe place
What belonging really means when you live here year-round
Sant Antoni in Sóller, what happens, when, and where
Bonfires, demonis, barbecues, and why it still feels joyful and free
The blessing of the animals (and why you should wear red)
Horse races in the town car park, and how surreal that feels
The bus culture of fiestas (and why younger locals love it)
Cost of living, subsidies, and what a “voucher world” looks like
A personal story that brings the conversation back to gratitude and perspective
Desi pubs in the UK, and how communities reshape culture over time
Bhukkad Boca in Palma, a new opening with big neighbourhood energy

Places and mentions
Sóller
Port de Sóller
Repic
La Huerta (Sóller)
Sant Antoni (Mallorca)
Sant Sebastià (Palma)
Bhukkad Boca (Son Armadams, Palma)
Merchants (Palma)
Tom Brown’s (Palmanova)

Quote highlights
“I love that week where you don’t know what day it is, you can just mooch about in your pyjamas.”
“The sea is definitely my safe place.”
“Everywhere you go in the next ten days, you’ll find a celebration of some kind.”
“It’s not spicy, it’s spiced up.”
“Mallorca has so many layers, the holiday version, the resident version, the international version, the working version.”

If you loved this episode…
If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the Mallorca Mallorca Podcast wherever you listen, and share this episode with a friend who loves Mallorca in the quieter season.
And if you’re spending January on the island, this is your sign to get out and experience the winter fiestas, even if you watch from a safe distance with a warm drink in hand.

Vicki sits down with Maya Flynn, a Poland-born health practitioner who lived in Ireland before moving to Mallorca. Maya shares how her own health journey, from low thyroid and fatigue to digestive issues, led her into naturopathic nutritional therapy and functional medicine.
Together they unpack why symptoms are often signals, not the real problem, why the body is individual, and how lifestyle, environment, digestion, and stress all shape how we feel. They also discuss the difference between folklore wisdom and modern science, and why the best results often come from using both.
Vicki brings a real-world question to the table too, a skin antioxidant test result that made no sense on paper. Maya explains how nutrients are prioritised in the body, why absorption matters as much as intake, and why context always wins in nutrition.
Finally, Maya shares details of her new Mallorca workshop series, Food as Medicine, starting 24 January, a ten-session community experience designed to cut through misinformation, build food confidence, and help people understand their own bodies with practical tools, not perfection.
What you’ll hear about
Maya’s move from Poland to Ireland, then Mallorca
Why “healthy” diets do not work the same for everyone
Functional medicine, what it is, and why people seek it out
Common issues clients bring, acne, bloating, itching, allergies, hormone shifts, perimenopause
Why symptoms are not the disease, they are signals
Ancient wisdom vs modern science, and why both can be useful
Time, routines, and why simple, repeatable meals matter
The updated US food pyramid and what it could mean in practice
Antioxidants, beta-carotene, absorption, and why fats matter
How Maya works with clients, questionnaires, photos, consultations, tests, and support options
Organic vs non-organic, and the “level up, not perfection” approach
Maya’s Food as Medicine series in Santa Catalina, Palma, and what each module covers

Food as Medicine series, key details
Starts: 24 January
Format: 10 Saturdays (you can join single sessions, or bundles of 5 or 10)
Session length: 2.5 hours, with a brunch break
Location: Santa Catalina, Palma (at Cintina)
Language: English
Sign-up: via Maya’s website (Food as Medicine tab)

Modules mentioned
New Year Reset (mindset, health audit, cutting through misinformation)
Food confidence (shopping in Mallorca, labels, avoiding marketing traps, Yuka app pros and cons)
Reading bloods and symptoms (how to interpret patterns, what you see in the mirror)
Stress resilience (thriving in stress, not pretending you can remove it)
Gut health (microbiome, parasites, ecosystem balance, symptoms beyond digestion)
Hormones and perimenopause (why symptoms are so intense, lifestyle factors)
Fitness and immunity (autoimmune conditions, histamine issues, sensitivities vs intolerances)

Places and mentions
Mallorca
Santa Catalina, Palma
Cintina
Mercadona
Yuka app

Quote highlights
“There is no such thing as one healthy diet.”
“Symptoms are not the disease, they’re the expression of what’s happening deeper.”
“Sustainable health comes from consistency.”
“Embrace the routine.”
“Improve life without turning it into a project.”

If you loved this episode…
If you’re feeling confused by conflicting nutrition advice, or you want practical steps that fit real life in Mallorca, this conversation is a great starting point. Follow the Mallorca Mallorca Podcast wherever you listen, and share this episode with a friend who’s trying to feel better without making life more complicated.