Weekend Coffee Share – Earthquake, Family, Food and Tourists!

The past couple of weeks have been hectic. Our family from France has been staying, so it was all hands on deck with shopping and preparation before they arrived and piles of laundry and sweeping sand from every nook and cranny once they left. Still, it keeps us fit, and spending time with them is great. I also get to go to the beach. I love feeling the sand between my toes, and I do miss my beach walks and just taking myself off to the beach to watch the sunset. Mr. Piglet detests sand, and with my walking disability, I am nervous to go alone just in case I fall. It would bring a whole new meaning to saving a ‘grounded whale.’

Earthquake! On Monday 26th August at 05.11, everyone in the house (except me) was woken by the grumbles of an earthquake as the ground shook. We later discovered that the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was approximately 60km west of Sines. (see below for full report). The last earthquake I felt several years ago was during the day, and everything in the house shook, and the wardrobe doors rattled!

Food: In the evening, we all went to Pizzeria Italiana Pomodorino, a pizza restaurant. The waitress was surly, and because they were so busy, the waiter was asked to stop serving tables and help in the kitchen. This would have been fine, except his long hair flounced over the food.

My daughter and I ordered a chicken pollo salad and a pizza to share. Our pizza had a soggy base. I am not meant to eat carbs, so if I do fall off the carb wagon, it will be for something I enjoy eating. I had a couple of mouthfuls, then scraped off the topping. Great pizza, not. To be fair, the other 3 pizzas the family ordered were okay. It was obviously not my night because the salad was swimming in grease at the bottom, and the lettuce was wilted and dead. The chicken …what we could find … was hard, brown and scraggy.

Again, I couldn’t eat it. Sigh … needless to say, we will never return, not just for the food but for the questionable hygiene in the kitchen and surly service.

On a positive food note, we ate in other restaurants during their stay, which not only had fantastic views but also delicious food and service.

Another positive is that I stuck to my pledge not to drink alcohol for three months. It was tough! My son-in-law bought me a present! A bottle of alcohol-free wine, which I eeked out for 3 days. What a star!

On the day they left, I cooked the Zucchini Bake, and thankfully, my version passed muster with my daughter as I tweaked their recipe.

Foodie Friday Challenge – Delicious Zucchini Bake

We were sad to see them go, but we will get together again for Christmas, my Birthday and New Year.

Tourists: We live in a tourist area, and they drive me crazy. Why do some people come on holiday and leave their brains, manners and respect at home? Enough said.

Diet and Exercise: I tried hard to adhere to the low-carb diet; while I succumbed to the temptation of a dessert when we ate out, I did resist the numerous pastel de natas and croissants my son-in-law returned with every day when he went to buy bread. And I tried to maintain my walking regime every day which was tough.

Needless to say, I never had my Wednesday weigh-in this week. Psychologically, I could not cope with a potential weight gain. I know I lapsed occasionally on desserts and ate chips and bread, so fingers crossed, the extra calories did not impact my weight too much.

Earthquake Ref: https://www.ipma.pt/en/geofisica/sismicidade/ and https://www.sulinformacao.pt/en/2024/08/sismo-em-portugal-ja-teve-nove-replicas-e-foi-o-10-o-maior-desde-o-seculo-xvi/

Do check out weekend coffee share bloggers over on Natalie’s Blog

How was your week?