If we were having coffee or a cup of cocoa, I’d tell you that this week, when I tried to book a medical appointment over the phone with Sonover Faro, I failed miserably. I listened. Tried to understand, searched for the words to try and make myself understood, but they evaporated into thin air. I’ve been studying Portuguese for years and for what? I still can’t flipping communicate. I feel like a moron. I want to scream. A long, piercing scream ending in a howl of frustration.
‘That sounds a bit dramatic,’ you sigh.
But trust me, when you have serious health issues that you are desperately trying to resolve, and you contact a private clinic to book an appointment, you expect the receptionist to speak at least some English.
Please remember that this clinic is a private in the Algarve, which is home to a multinational community, and English is commonplace in the service industry, unlike in the Alentejo. Even our local waiting staff and several shop assistants speak English, or, if they don’t, at least they try to meet my pathetic attempts to speak Portuguese halfway.
Yes, I know I should speak the lingo, and I am trying, but I don’t understand why a private clinic employs a receptionist to book appointments when she only speaks Portuguese.
But, thinking about it, my last Portuguese teacher, who was from Lisbon, once confided that even he doesn’t understand Algarvian Portuguese. Apparently, it isn’t proper Portuguese!
Anyway, thinking outside the box, I tracked down the clinics contact details and composed an email requesting an appointment, which I then asked ChatGPT to translate into European Portuguese.
Now I wait. Fingers crossed it’s this side of Christmas!
Nutritionist – Yay!
My appointment went surprisingly well. I told her I did not want a quick weight loss fix; I needed a lifestyle change. She listened. Took copious notes and asked lots of questions. She spoke to my doctor about potential health issues that could impact the changes she want to make to my diet. Great! She will prepare a medically informed personalised diet which I should receive tomorrow. WoW! We’ve even set up a WhatsApp chat so she can mentor me if I have a wobble, have questions about recipes, etc. etc.
This will be my last shot at losing weight.
Lunching with friends
Oops! We ate out twice this week. The first time was at a steakhouse, and YES, I resisted dessert, which I don’t normally do. I also didn’t drink any alcohol, which was tough. Fizzy water doesn’t quite cut it when you’re eating a nice piece of steak.
The other lunch date was with our German friends, who served grilled salmon and vegetables. They also came up trumps with alcohol-free beer and a Martini alternative!
Finally, the tourists have all gone home or have they?
This morning we decided to take our coffee on the beach, so armed with two beach chairs and a flask of coffee we set up camp on an empty beach. Bliss. Peace.
That’s just some of the highlights from this week. How was your week?
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