When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grand kids and 2 great grand... Continue Reading →
City Living in Lisbon
This week's theme for Jakes photo challenge is City Living in a city I'm sure has many advantages, but I've always pondered on the problem as to where city-dwellers hang their wet washing to dry in these tiny trendy city apartments. Now I know! Every time I visit a big city claustrophobia washes over me,... Continue Reading →
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White insects in soil…what are they?
There is never a dull moment on Piglet's Plot. I've discovered yet another bug has taken up residence in my gourmet garden so I need some help from my gardening buddies please! While emptying the soil from a pot I'd recently grown potatoes in I discovered tiny white insects running around in the soil. I've... Continue Reading →
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NaNoWriMo – am I crazy?
I've often asked the question "What is the difference between a blogger and a writer?" Any ideas please, because I'm about to find out! I'm not sure why I decided to sign up and commit myself to the NaNoWriMo(National Novel Writing Month) challenge other than my family have been nagging me to write a novel... Continue Reading →
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Bacalhau à Brás
The first time I tasted Bacalhau à Brás I spat it out in surprised horror, downed a glass of water and swore at the assault on my taste buds. My tongue reacted in much the same way as that of a slug when you pour neat salt on it. I realise a tongue and slug... Continue Reading →
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Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables – September
August passed with a blink of an eye and before I realised, it was September. Unfortunately, I failed in my personal challenge to record my "August" gardening "ups and downs" along with photographic evidence. Fortunately I made some notes, which I've recorded below, but photographs are like hen's teeth (non-existent) A bug called citrus leaf... Continue Reading →
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My Algarve Insider Tips
Our first holiday to the Algarve was nearly thirty years ago and memories of the stunning beaches remain imprinted in our minds like footprints in the sand. The secluded coves and miles of beaches with soft golden sand, flanked by sandstone rocks, rugged cliffs and unspoilt countryside enticed us to return; not to holiday, but ... Continue Reading →
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Telling Porkies
When my son and fiancée moved to their new home in the UK they inherited a neglected, but nevertheless healthy rhubarb plant which had masses of thick juicy stalks. I was green with envy as the plant was growing in a small container and I'd desperately tried for years to grow rhubarb in containers, with... Continue Reading →
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BBQ’d Piglet on Market Day
Beginning to feel faint from the intense heat I paused in the shade of a large tree to people-watch. I smiled as tourists, oblivious to the scorching sun and their already lobster-red arms and faces, rummaged enthusiastically through the clothes stalls. Brightly coloured tie-dye dresses and tops at just two for €15.00 were waved in... Continue Reading →
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Everyday Life in the Algarve
But not as we know it! Perhaps looking at this photograph you would be forgiven for thinking the shot was taken in the heart of the country, and not in a small town in the Western Algarve. When I captured this moment it was if I'd stepped back in time to another era and a... Continue Reading →
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A Simple Way to Propagate Hibiscus
Hibiscus are my favourite plants (shrubs) because they are SO easy to grow and reward me with an abundance of beautiful flowers throughout the year. Unable to grow them in England I was naturally delighted to discover not only did they grow well in the Algarve, but also the amazing different varieties to choose from.... Continue Reading →
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit
The theme for this week's WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is"Free Spirit" Sitting on the shoreline Looking out to sea. Body boarding or fishing The challenge sets me free A free spirit in the water At the mercy of the sea. The sunset lifts my spirit But boarding sets me free.
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Silves Medieval Fair 2012 – Feira Medieval Silves
The Medieval Fair held in the historic town of Silves is our favourite event of the year. In fact, we enjoy it so much it's always the first social event flagged, in advance, on our Calender. If you live in the Algarve and have never been to the Silves Medieval fair you must go once,... Continue Reading →
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What are these?
Are they the eyes of a GM critter? Have aliens arrived from outer space? hmmmm I'm not convinced. OK, humour me and let your imagination indulge itself - what do you think? Please check out Piglet's new gardening blog - Piglet's Plot for the answer...
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Black and White…or Colour?
The theme for Jake's Photo Challenge this week is: Black and White however, I am not a great lover of black and white photographs. Yes, I know they can be "Arty", but to me they look rather bland and soulless. (Please feel free to disagree) Perhaps, because I am rather a colourful person I can't... Continue Reading →
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Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in Containers – July
My container gardening diary continues... The temperatures in July, after scorching winds, soared into the 30Cs and certainly tested my tenacity and ability to grow fruit and vegetables in containers. Unlike cacti, succulents, hibiscus and the other variety of plants I grow, container grown fruit and vegetables are certainly more challenging for the novice gardener.... Continue Reading →
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Is Bullfighting “Wrong”?
The theme for this week's WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is "Wrong". I often reflect on the heated and ongoing debate about the traditional spectacle of bullfighting which is popular in several countries including Spain and Portugal. While some people refer to bullfighting as an "Art" others refer to it as "Sport". Either way should people... Continue Reading →
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10 Useful Facts About The Carob Tree (Árvore de Alfarrobeiras)
Or should this be "10 useful facts I did not know about the Carob tree"? Lacking inspiration for this week's Wordpress Weekly Photo Challenge - theme: "Growth" , I stumbled across this picture of an old Carob tree (Árvore de alfarrobeiras). I'd taken the picture on our first geo-cache expedition and according to the accompanying blurb about... Continue Reading →
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Simple Yummy Nougatine
During one of our visits to France I discovered an addictive sweet biscuit called nougatine. It's a wafer thin almond concoction eaten with coffee/tea or used as a decorative wafer when serving ice cream. Or if you are like me, and a real pig, you could munch your way through this addictive creation in one... Continue Reading →
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Portugal: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in July
You certainly reap what you sow! I've devoted hours tending my vegetable garden this month and I'm now reaping the benefits with an abundant crop of tomatoes, lettuce, radish, carrots, peppers, red cabbage and French green beans. The crops are fed at regular intervals with the MiracleGro kindly donated by a friend. However, I can't... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 