A Creative Spirit
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 →
The weather here continues to be warm and dry. Daytime temperatures range from 16C to 26C. We've had some rain but not enough to impact the drought situation so I continue to recycle as much grey water as possible. It's tough. I spent today feeding and watering all the plants using a watering can, writing... Continue Reading →
Mavis sighed, then summoned her husband. “Gerard, those damn hippies are back again in the woods next door!” Gerard groaned. Their local environmental group had only just finished clearing up all the soiled toilet paper, used condoms and rubbish from their last visit. “What do you expect me to do about it? ” “I don’t... 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 →
Mavis stared unblinking at the television while the newsreader reported on the latest antics of politicians, protestors, the Police, Putin and nuclear war. The grim news of the latest price hikes on fuel and food presented with as much passion as reading a supermarket checkout receipt. Understaffed hospitals, a shortage of teachers, and babies dying... Continue Reading →
The weather over the last week continues to be reasonably hot, achieving temperatures of around 25C but still no rain. I am recycling water and reusing as much as I physically can. aka storing all the pool backwash, water from shower, dehumidifiers, collecting water in bowls etc. etc. Rant warning: While out for a walk... Continue Reading →
A Wanton Waste of Water Words: 296 Prompt: Sacrifice Throughout the summer months, Madge worried about the worsening drought situation in the Algarve. She fretted. Dams were little more than puddles ... as was the river in her local town. Newspapers and online groups continually warned that without significant rainfall there would be a severe... Continue Reading →
I continue to be delighted by how well my succulents grow in pots. During the heat of the summer, I moved many of my succulents into the dappled shade to give them some respite from the scorching temperatures of the mid-day sun. Pot-grown succulents do offer greater flexibility, especially when temperatures soar to the high... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 