How Was Your Week? Such is Life …

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that while I had an upbeat week, it wasn’t without its ups and downs, but that’s life, yes?

Monday, I was absolutely frazzled. It made me realise that while I may think I am twenty, my body reminds me otherwise. My day started very early with blood tests. Then, prior to working in the charity shop, I needed to find somewhere to eat breakfast, then onto the shop for 3 hrs before rushing back for lunch and line dancing and then a farewell meal with friends in the evening before they returned to England the following day.

PARKING

Our local town is now awash with tourists and campervans, so parking spaces are in short supply, as is my patience. As the saying goes: The early bird catches the worm, ” so just before 9am, I had two spaces to choose from. Of course, when I returned four hours later, while I had balanced my options based on how considerate I am to other drivers, not all are, and a flipping camper van parked so close to me that I could not get the angle to manoeuvre out of the space. I was wedged. 20 mins of cursing and shunting back and forth proved fruitless. I considered sending an SOS to Mr. Piglet. I was already going to be late for line dancing. Maybe he would pick me up and we could collect the car later.

Thankfully, a local man parked in the row directly opposite suggested he move his car so I could reverse straight into his space to get the angle. I could have hugged him.

I am reminded I must print up some cards: Next time you park, leave a flipping shoehorn. Please show more consideration!

Of course I won’t, but the call to action made me feel a tad bit better …

TOURIST FOR A DAY

Regarding tourists, we decided to have a day out, which did not involve doctors, dentists, car repairs, etc. Just a relaxing day. Shopping for bits and bobs in the Aqua Shopping Centre in Portimão, followed by lunch and a walk along the boardwalk on the beach at the popular tourist area of Praia da Rocha. Let’s just say it is a very different vibe from where we live, but that’s okay. We had lunch at Casa Rocha, with its spectacular 180-degree ocean view. After lunch, we walked along the promenade, stopped for a pina colada, and Mr. P had an ice cream sundae. Sadly, there were zillions of steps down onto the beach boardwalk, and apparently, there was no disabled access, or if there was, it was not signposted.

While I don’t like living in a tourist area at least we can dip into numerous tourist resorts along the Algarve.

DO YOU LIKE CRUISING?

WE used to go many years ago, before the ships became floating villages, and you are herded on and off the ship like cattle but I still like the idea of visiting a different place every day rather like a taster menu at a good restaurant.

Rant Alert!

There are days when, thanks to my disability, I want to have a dummy spit. When the media whine on about inclusivity and diversity, I suggest they try walking in the shoes of someone with limited mobility … or use a wheelchair... or step into the shoes of an OAP.

I try not to let it grind me down and stay upbeat with a ‘can do‘ attitude but sometimes … SOMETIMES…

FRIENDS FOR SUPPER

Where we live, we have the privilege of mixing with and having friends of many different nationalities, which makes for interesting discussions and POV. This week we entertained some German friends, which proved an absolute delight!

I cooked a meat, and a salmon lasagne, and they brought along a fresh green salad made from produce from their garden. … Like myself, they are keen gardeners and as we toured the garden, I begged their opinion as to the cause of my failing courgettes and tomatoes. Diagnosis. Probably a bad batch of compost.

Dessert, I made an Eaton Mess, a traditionally English dessert.

and so life goes on…

Thanks for joining me for Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share!

See ya’all next week.