Are you sitting comfortably? Do you take your coffee with or without sugar? Or maybe you would like something stronger? When we were in Annecy, France, a couple of weeks ago, I was heartened to see this street art in one of the back streets by a cafe. The artists were protesting about the use... Continue Reading →
Pet Peeve: Cigarette Smoke
I have a few pet peeves regarding tobacco smoke. The first is when smokers, in the company of non-smoking friends 'light up' which means their friends are forced to inhale tobacco smoke. Second-hand smoke is dangerous and there is no safe level of exposure I understand some people can't live without their cancer sticks and... Continue Reading →
Pet Peeve: Toilet Signs
I am curious. Why are the women's toilet signs at Faro Airport reduced to graphics depicting legs and boobs? When and why did we lose our skirt? For the visually impaired this sign is confusing and ridiculous. I feel sorry for men, who, taking a half-glance at the sign, could be forgiven for thinking they... Continue Reading →
Pet Peeve: I Need to Sit Down …
... but there are no courtesy seats in shops. I never noticed until I injured my knee (I'm unable to stand or walk for long) that shops no longer have a courtesy chair or two, for those waiting while their companions browse. This week, we went to the new designer outlet at Mar shopping centre... Continue Reading →
This Sign Made Me Laugh!
We are plagued by wild campers who have no respect for the countryside. This sign near Praia da Amoreira made me laugh, and inspired me to write a poem which is also about crap! Please Scoop Your Poop Wild campers, (PLEASE) scoop your poop or dig a hole we don't want your faeces on our soles nor your toilet... Continue Reading →
#PetPeeve: Do You Have Feet Like Pig’s Trotters?
One of my personal pet peeves are my square stumpy feet. They resemble pig's trotters and make me feel like one of Cinderella's ugly sisters. It's official: I hate shopping for boots. Why? Most standard shoe retailers, such as Guimaraes, only seem to focus on women with Cinderella feet, so if you are blessed with... Continue Reading →
Pet Peeve: Able-Bodied People Parking in Disabled Bays
There is a new addition to the disabled and mother and baby parking bays. Or maybe it's always been there and I've never noticed. There is now designated parking close to the entrance of the store for people with walking disabilities. (At least that is what I think the sign means). Fourteen months after injuring... Continue Reading →
Pet Peeve: Automated Toilets
On one of our many visits to see our French grandchildren we went to the picturesque town of Annecy in the Rhone-Alpes region of southeast France. If you've never been, I can thoroughly recommend it. The scenery is stunning and the historic old town reminds me of Venice. Anyway, I digress. My pet peeve, on... Continue Reading →
Fake Flowers on Cacti – What a Con. Buyer BEWARE!!!
One of my pet peeves is the straw flowers they add to cacti. Not only is it cruel to stick a sharp stick into the flesh of the cacti it is misleading to the unsuspecting buyer. This is one of the first cacti I purchased and I was not aware such a practice existed. It... Continue Reading →
Driving in the UK – Variable Speed Limits
On a recent trip back to the UK we found, much to our surprise, driving far more stressful than in Portugal. Okay, you probably don’t get so many crazy drivers taking unnecessary risks, but that is probably due to the fact that most of the UK roads we traveled were nothing more than one long... Continue Reading →
Inconsiderate Drivers or Road Rats?
Today I was driving down a very 'wibbly wobbly', twisty narrow road to my mosaic class. Given my knowledge of the road I drive steady. Real steady. I call it the road of Hell or the pathway to Heaven. I always anticipate the unexpected as it is not unusual to drive round a bend to... Continue Reading →