A Creative Spirit
Try as I may, I just can't get excited about vegetarian meals. I've tried and am still trying. Tried to put a positive spin on them. Spent hours studying recipes. And please don't suggest Torfu, I tried it once and gagged. Probably because I knew it was artificial meat. I know we should try to... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that at times I think life is like the weather. One minute we have cornflower-blue skies and sunshine, then clouds, rain, and strong winds the next. The day starts sunny, so feeling upbeat, you think I'll have a BBQ. One solitary cloud floats across the sun and... Continue Reading →
Always desperate to improve my gut health and lose weight, I am often sucked in by so-called experts on YouTube. You must have seen these guys pulling faces and probably making spurious claims. But they're the experts, RIGHT? Until this week, I have taken their advice at face value. Who am I to dispute that... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you it's been a week of taking stock of my physical and mental health. Are they linked? Yes, I believe so. I've decided this year not to set strict goals or resolutions that will probably set me up to fail, but rather learn to live in the moment... Continue Reading →
When I read this MEME on the FB page 'Positive Energy,' I thought, " Okay, it needs a tweak, but what a brilliant idea!" I've been feeling rather low for some time, so before the black dog depression spiralled any further, I found an old container and wrote my first couple of positive energy notes.... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that this week has had its highs and lows. One of our friends unexpectedly passed away on the 27th. This was the guy whose passion for cacti and succulents inspired me, and with whom, over the years, we exchanged many cuttings and unusual plants, and enjoyed many... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I would confide that while I usually like to class myself as a creative spirit, this year, when it came to erecting and decorating the Christmas tree and putting up decorations, I had zero patience, probably because I was nursing a toothache. And Gringe, Mr Piglet, refused to help. If... Continue Reading →
For this week's #foodiefriday post, I had intended to discuss herbal teas and which ones you prefer and why, but once I started my research, I got lost in the internet rabbit warren and the horrors of microplastics in tea and how they can potentially impact our health. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LnXGB0ROs8&t=42s Further digging unearthed this research-based article,... Continue Reading →
I am not superstitious, but... Quote from Wiki "In folklore, the witching hour or devil's hour is a time of night that is associated with supernatural events, whereby witches, demons and ghosts are thought to appear and be at their most powerful. Definitions vary, and include the hour immediately after midnight and the time between... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd mention it has been another busy week, which included a chance meeting with a dear friend whom we'd lost touch with. Our misinterpretation of the potentially complicated reason for their silence meant we had not reached out again. However, their apparent silence was not due to a lack of... Continue Reading →
Yes, this is a serious question. I ask because whenever I see something sweet, it triggers an irritating voice in my head, which keeps niggling like the spoilt toddler intent on getting its own way until you lose the will to live and comply just for a quiet life. Recently, the niggling came in the... Continue Reading →
At last—it’s September and sanity slowly returns. When we first came here, the Western Algarve was still undiscovered and far removed from the well-worn tourist hotspots further east. Now, summers are chaos. The great migration is ending at last: kids back to school, and the zillions of sunburned, flip-flop–wearing visitors have packed up their inflatable... Continue Reading →
I am fooded out. My head is spinning like a whirling diva and my Facebook feed is jammed with this or that expert telling me NOT to eat certain food combinations or it will cause x, y or Z. These so-called experts are all pulling silly faces to attract your attention. Claims such as if... Continue Reading →
I've probably been in denial for some time, but after eating pizza last night, my stomach bloated to the size of a barrage balloon within hours. This is not an isolated incident. Perhaps it's time to reassess my diet and try a gluten-free approach. My body's reaction might not be to gluten. It could be... Continue Reading →
WooHoo! I am doing a happy dance. I have just had a complex conversation (perhaps a slight hyperbole) in Portuguese on the phone with an extremely patient and kind lady from the doctor's office. The purpose of her call was to schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor to discuss the results from blood work,... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee or something a little stronger, I'd tell you that it's been another busy week and at times stressful. A VISIT TO THE DOCTORS - Take 2 On Thursday, as I'd still not received an appointment to see a doctor and the pain in my hip was becoming unbearable at times,... Continue Reading →
This week has been challenging, especially as it was time to admit I'd failed on some of the health goals I'd set last month as part of the #wellnessremiagined linkup. But maybe 'fail' is not the right word; I'd just taken a minor detour before getting back on track. https://pigletinportugal.com/2025/03/03/fooded-out-in-february/ My goals for March were:... Continue Reading →
Last Sunday, we finally enjoyed a respite from the rainy weather, which allowed me to catch up on laundry and gardening. I say respite but it was still cold and windy. Mosquitoes and Fly Repellants Of course, when the sun did appear, so did the wretched mosquitoes. They are out in force, breeding like crazy... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you everything aches this week. I think the continued damp weather is getting into the marrow of my bones. One of my friends said she felt the same so perhaps it's not just me. Can your bones ache? Entertaining Friends—On Sunday, we invited a couple of friends over... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 