A Creative Spirit
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Rock is situated on the promontory between the beaches of Praia da Sra da Rocha and Praia Nova, Porches in the Municipality of Lagoa. We stumbled across the ancient chapel purely by chance while looking for the Vilarinho Beach restaurant. After lunch, we drove up to the chapel... 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 →
This week's Six on Saturday's gardening endeavours have once again been set against a backdrop of intermittent showers, sun and strong winds. I'm not complaining. We desperately need the rain. The only downside is the mosquitoes that are always so delighted to see me when I venture out into the garden. The daily temperatures have... Continue Reading →
According to Wikipedia In Portugal, the holiday is known as "Dia dos Namorados" (Lovers' Day / Day of the Enamoured). As elsewhere, couples exchange gifts, but in some regions, women give a lenço de namorados ("lovers' handkerchief"), which is usually embroidered with love motifs.[180] I love the idea of a 'lovers' hankerchief'. Something simple. Not... Continue Reading →
Six things that are happening in my garden this week. Hence Six on Saturday hosted by Jim. Where has this week gone? It seems like only yesterday I was preparing last week's Six on Saturday gardening post. 1. Drought in the Algarve The heavens finally opened and we have been blessed with heavy rain for... Continue Reading →
In November 2022, we decided to don our green halo, join the club, and install solar panels. Had to do our bit to help save the planet, right? The sales rep interrogated us on the appliances we used and then recommended four panels. I scratched my head at his assessment. Once we had installed the... Continue Reading →
It's Sunday, and it's cocktails at Lagos Marina, not coffee!! Reviewing life over the last week, I managed to circle back and catch up with my own tail. I completed 'dry January' with flying colours and celebrated my month of sobriety with a strawberry gin with tonic. Trust me when I say it took a... Continue Reading →
Weather in January We have had a mixed bag of weather this January. Everything from Southerly winds, Atlantic storms, heavy rain, night temperatures just above freezing to temperatures around 20C and brilliant sunshine. We have our own micro-climate by the sea. A few miles inland in the valley is much colder so what grows well... Continue Reading →
https://bloganuary.wordpress.com/2024/01/30/what-do-you-complain-about-the-most Sigh... I like to think I'm reasonably tolerant, but there are some things that just get under my skin, like itching powder. #1 Owners who allow their dogs to poop on beaches. Please, I beg, scoop their poop. Standing in a dog's poo in your bare feet is not cool. #2 Diners on the... Continue Reading →
Dry January: A Month Without Alcohol! This year I only made two New Year's resolutions: Abstain from alcohol for the month of January. Lose 15kg in weight by June 2024 On the Wagon Dry January was tough. Very tough because we enjoy a glass of wine or three with our meal, enjoy a gin and... Continue Reading →
Because I have such a wide range of hobbies and interests, I am the type of person who needs a 30-hour day! I'm meant to be retired, but I manage to fill EVERY minute. The phrase, 'I'm bored,' does not form part of my vocabulary. I've only listed my top five, so I will also... Continue Reading →
Several years ago, I bought a kumquat tree to grow in a pot. Poor thing struggled, and its leaves were always yellow. I was advised this was due to either too much water or not enough. An iron deficiency or whatever, so I bought various expensive commercial feeds, and they did not make that much... Continue Reading →
Checkouts not manned by staff have apparently neither revolutionised our shopping experience nor cut operating costs as expected. In my opinion, this is proof you can't always replace humans with technology-- and why should we? My number one concern when shops implemented self-service checkouts was that of the human cost. The army of part-time workers, such... Continue Reading →
Yep, packing the physical contents of your life into cardboard boxes is a fantastic way to declutter your life significantly when you are downsizing for retirement. All trivial trinkets and junk you've collected over the years when you only have limited space in the removal lorry and a tiny house does help to focus the mind.... Continue Reading →
It took me all of three seconds to answer this question - clue - the name of my website. I absolutely adore pigs, especially piglets! I realise the most popular choice will probably be dogs or cats ... but piglets, hye, you've got to admit they are cute. Brown piglets with black spots Prize porker... Continue Reading →
In what ways do you communicate online? Do you remember life before the internet when we relied on snail mail and landlines, and our only visual link to the outside world was TV, newspapers and magazines? When phones were phones. You dialled a number and made a call? Roll on 30 years, and now we... Continue Reading →
Looking back, August 2021 was one of the most harrowing road trips we undertook was driving to visit our family in France and then onto the UK just after the COVID restrictions were lifted. We didn't want to fly from Portugal, so driving in our own car bubble and staying in Approved and SAFE Clean... Continue Reading →
In May 2023, after months of hard work and lots of laughter as we shared differences in language, life and love, we published The 1st Promise: A Brit-Meets-Yank Romance: Sophia & Aaron, Book 1 of 3 (The Promise, a Brit-Meets-Yank). I am delighted to say the book was well received on both sides of the... 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 →
I've not posted any updates to my blog for a while. That's not because I've been slacking, nope. I've been working on a romance novel that has consumed all my spare time. Even my beloved garden has taken second place, as have my other creative hobbies such as creating mosaics and painting. Anyways, a chance... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 