A Creative Spirit
I love volunteering to work in the charity shop. Why? Our small town is a diverse melting pot, and the shop offers a new opportunity to interact with many nationalities. This is probably why I've struggled to learn Portuguese. For instance, I greeted one man and a woman as they entered the shop. with a... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, we would have plenty to catch up on, as I have been absent for the last ten days (apart from a pre-scheduled garden post and a Wordless Wednesday), so I am running waaaay behind. The reason: we went to stay with our daughter and family in France for nine days.... 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 →
A week ago today, we were in France staying with our daughter and family to celebrate our granddaughter's 13th Birthday and support her in the regional basketball semi-finals for age groupsthirteen and under. Microsoft 365 A few days before our trip, I discovered the laptop I use when travelling decided to have a hissy fit.... Continue Reading →
Apparently, we scroll miles every year on our mouse and perform millions of clicks. Since my beloved ergonomic HP mouse died a few weeks ago, I have been limping along, moaning and groaning. Would you buy ill-fitting shoes? I trawled around the shops with my dead mouse, searching for a replacement, but it felt like... Continue Reading →
The first part of the week passed slowly, probably due to the weather - strong winds and heavy showers and I didn't feel like going out - not even in my garden, which is rare. I wrote a job list to try and motivate me out of my funk and then just looked at it. Meh... Continue Reading →
It's been a strange couple of weeks. I could say why, but it's probably better if I don't. *laughing*. But the experience taught me that more enjoyable doors can open as one door closes. Yep, sometimes we can't see the wood for the trees. I have experienced many smiles over the last week, which have... Continue Reading →
It was our wedding anniversary on Tuesday. On Thursday we tried hydrotherapy pilates for the first time! AND Friday ... I am delighted to announce our online writing community (writingforums.com) published Halloween Tales: Short Stories of Supernatural Terror, and two of my stories were selected for publication. Happy dance in progress! Please take a look... Continue Reading →
It's been hard to smile this week as I've had a raging toothache and ended up in A E for an emergency dentist appointment. Long story ... I'm now on strong antibiotics to try and calm the infection. SMILE= I think the infection is almost gone. I hope to announce a BIG smile next week... Continue Reading →
A BIG smile this week because after moaning for the last couple of years that I can't fully access my raised vegetable garden and listening to Mr. Piglet's moans because he has to climb up onto the bed to weed, plant and pick crops in the centre strip he finally agreed to redesign and create... Continue Reading →
This week we took the opportunity to take an unplanned relaxing lunch along the waterfront at Alvor, enjoy the view and people-watch (great fodder for my next novel). The lunch and idyllic location a welcome bonus sandwiched between a hospital appointment and our stressful weekly shopping foray. In these times of the soaring cost of... Continue Reading →
I have two smiles to share this week We all have embarrassing moments, but this one was a cracker and made the sales assistant and I laugh. And we ALL need a reason to laugh right now. Uriage sunblock stick A couple of weeks ago I went to the pharmacy to buy a sunblock stick... Continue Reading →
I've had a lot to smile about over the last week. The new raised vegetable beds are finished and almost filled with compost. The vegetable seeds are beginning to germinate and I have already replanted many of the tomato seedlings to their own pots to grow on. Who knew sitting in a car park by... Continue Reading →
It can be tough finding a smile when you are 'shielding' locked away from the world. That said when you focus on the positives in life they can far outweigh the negatives as you learn to adapt, develop new skills and appreciate things that a year ago would have passed unnoticed. So I've several smiles... Continue Reading →
We spent the week dodging heavy rain and admiring rainbows. Socially-distanced meetups with friends were canceled and then rearranged at the last minute when the sun dodged the clouds and made a brief appearance. Water butts brimmed to overflowing and the long-awaited rain sounded like music to my ears as it drummed on the roof... Continue Reading →
Over the last few weeks, my mobility after a total knee replacement operation eight weeks ago has plateaued. Despite physical therapy twice a week and plenty of home exercise my knee bend has not improved beyond 90 degrees. Yes, I managed to dispense with one crutch but the lack of muscle around my knee means... Continue Reading →
I've not participated in Trent's Weekly Smile for some time but today when the notification popped up in my inbox, I thought why not? We are all living through so much doom and gloom thanks to not only COVID but political shenanigans and demonstrations etc, I think it's time to look outwards at the positives... Continue Reading →
On Sunday we went to our local beach for coffee. As we enjoyed the views across the yet unspoilt beach and rugged coastline of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina while chatting to friends, we paused as the sound of haunting music caught our attention. At first, we thought the music was... Continue Reading →
This little pig went to the local market and bought a piggy sweet. yum yum! Doces do Algarve are traditional handmade marzipan sweets. They are super-sweet so if you want a shot of sugar they are perfect! They are normally shaped and carefully painted as fruit, vegetables or fish, (or at least the ones... Continue Reading →
My weekly smile this week comes courtesy of a dear poetry friend at writingforums.com. My Christmas Pippy Pig never arrived so my tenacious friend sent another! It now sits pride of place on my desk. Parcel delivery to our house can be a little unreliable at times and seems to depend on the tenacity of... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 