How Was Your Week? On a Mission …

… or I should say several: Find Easter eggs for a friend who is flying over from the UK with her grandkids for Easter. Get lettuce plants and source a costume for the Western Murder Mystery party. Art lesson to work on Buddha, Portuguese…. holy moly and that’s before I worked in the garden.

São Teotónio Monthly Market

I took a raincheck on working in the charity shop on Monday as we needed to go to the S. T market, which is held on the 1st Monday of every month. I was on a mission to buy lettuce, spinach and rocket. I’ve tried to source locally but without success. So this little piggy was off to market. Of course, after all the cool weather, it had to be one of the hottest days so far this year and Mr. Piglet parked the furthest end away from the plant stalls, which involved a steep hike up a hill before we reached level ground.

On the way home, it did not take much convincing for Mr. Piglet to stop at one of our favourite restaurants, A Azenha do Mar, for lunch.

before returning home to plant up all the lettuce plugs.

ART

On arriving at Rowan’s, the art teacher’s studio, I propped up my canvas, and we discussed colours. I stared at the big WHITE blank canvas, and it reminded me very much of staring at the dreaded blank page when you are writing a book. Where to begin.

I was physically shaking in case I messed up. “Don’t worry,” she said. We will get some background colour down as the first layer, and we can change it if it does not give the effect you are looking for.”

I took a deep breath. Swirted various shades of orange, yellow and red on the palate and sloshed on the paint, eventually smudging with my fingers or sponge when the paintbrush failed to capture the effect I was looking for

I stood back. I’m not sure of the first layer of colour. I think it may be too orange. What do you think?

PORTUGUESE LESSON

I took a couple of weeks’ break from lessons because my brain was frazzled. “A minha mente está esgotada!“

A rest didn’t make any difference. My brain is still frazzled. I hate admitting defeat, but where we live, I don’t get much opportunity to use it. But then, even my Portuguese teacher, who comes from Lisbon, does not understand Algarvian Portuguese because Algarvians eat the beginning and end of each word, thereby audibly creating a new one. If he can’t understand his own lingo, what chance do I have?

I’m convinced he thinks I am stupid and have the memory and concentration span of a chicken. I don’t blame him. I am not interested in knowing ten or twenty different ways to conjugate a verb and all the nuances. How did I survive so long with my basic Portuguese? There are at least three different verbs to say walk: Andar, Caminhar, and Passear. Each has a subtle difference that I’ve forgotten already.

EASTER EGG HUNT

“Can you buy a couple of easter eggs,” my UK friend said.” Me, “Of course,”. Thought: but where? We weren’t near the English overseas supermarket selling recognisable chocolate brands. Settled on a couple of eggs from the Portuguese supermarket. But OMG the price! BUT mission accomplished.

Are Easter Eggs expensive, or am I out of touch with current trends?

WESTERN MURDER MYSTERY PARTY

On a wet and dismal afternoon a few weeks ago, a couple of friends and I were supping on our G&T’s moaning about the weather (as you do) when we hatched the idea of holding a Western Murder Mystery evening.

Of course, once the characters were allocated, I fretted on what to wear. I was a snooty piano player called Tinny Musick – gender open. Mr Piglet was Maverick Bullcok and English gambler and much to my surprised he immediately got his costume together. Weeks later I am still procrastinating. I wanted a fancy waistcoat. I searched everywhere. No luck and it was too late to order online.

Finally, inspiration struck, and I went into the Nandi Charity shop in Lagos. I explained that I wanted an old waistcoat or jacket, and the women came up trumps with an old black jacket, which, although three sizes too small, was exactly what I was looking for. The lady suggested I remove the sleeves and repurpose the jacket into a waistcoat. Removing the sleeves allowed more room, and the feather boa covered the fact it never did up. Perfect!

Once home, I hacked, chopped, and bullied the jacket into shape. I added some red diamonds to match the red hat and feather boa a friend lent me, a black shirt, trousers, and suede stud boots, and I was good to go.

Mission accomplished! Do you like fancy dress themed parties?

We had a brilliant evening and even added a few line dances for entertainment.

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That’s it for this week, folks.

Do join us over at Natalie’s for a chinwag and a coffee for weekend coffeeshare and the #anythinggoeslinky over at Debs