One of my subscribers sent me this recipe...Cherry Mistmas! Christmas Cake Ingredients 1 cup butter 4 large eggs 1 cup dried fruit lemon juice 1 bottle brandy 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt Nuts Method Sample the brandy to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the brandy again... Continue Reading →
It is official I am now SPAM!
Hi folks, I’m having a few issues with WordPress at the moment which I can’t seem to resolve. The comments I leave on your blogs are not appearing. To begin with I wondered what on earth was happening - there was not even the “Your comment is awaiting moderation” message. Nada - nothing – Zilch.... Continue Reading →
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Waiting…
This post is inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. This week's theme is Waiting Fishermen spend hours fishing from the rocks or shoreline "waiting" to catch a fish. They cast their line into the sea and then wait patiently for the tell-tale signs which signify a fish has taken the bait. As I watch... Continue Reading →
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Christmas holidays
Holidays and House Guests I was recently asked by a friend living in the UK: "Do expats still take holidays and if so where?" What a strange question and one I’d never considered! So what's the deal with expats and holidays? Do you return to your homeland to visit family and friends, explore your new... Continue Reading →
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Licensed to Kill – But Kill What?
Driving down the country lane to our local town I noticed several of the road signs bore strange indentations; almost as though they’d been shot at. Surely hunters were not using road signs as target practice? I immediately dismissed the idea because one of the damaged signs was in very close proximity to a house.... Continue Reading →
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A “Family” of Storks
This post was inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge This week's theme is "Family" I spotted this family of storks nesting on an outcrop of rocks in the ocean near my house. However, I was a little surprised by this location because up to this point I'd only seen storks nesting on chimneys or... Continue Reading →
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I’m being invaded…
...by roots! We returned to Portugal in Mid October and the weather was hot and dry; a balmy Indian Summer. My raised vegetable bed which had been left to run wild in my absence was full of weeds and in dire need of some tender loving care. I'd never grown winter vegetables before so I... Continue Reading →
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Authentic Curry Virgin!
Can you believe I was an authentic curry virgin? My friends, the curry addicts, could not understand how I’d managed to reach the ripe old age of xx and had never eaten at an authentic Indian restaurant. In fact, they thought I was joking when I informed them the number of curries I’d eaten in... Continue Reading →
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Raisins – I “wonder” why they have pips?
Post inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge This week's theme is "Wonder" Our very basic knowledge of Portuguese often means simple tasks turn into a challenge; today’s experience is a typical example. Although I continue to study Portuguese I am struggling – the more I try, the more stressed I become! After my recent... Continue Reading →
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“Window” The Fort of Arrifana (Miradouro da Antiga Fortaleza da Arrifana)
I loved this “window” at the ancient Fort of Arrifana but sadly it no longer exists. The old fort as it was a year ago...an old ruin, but a place to take in the views and reflect. We returned a year later to find... I am not sure this has been sympathetically restored. Look at... Continue Reading →
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…you just need faith!
On Tuesday, after a THREE month wait for a new part for my "broken" oven it turned out they had ordered wrong part! (see my Pigging Oven! post) In desperation and with the hope of identifying the correct part the oven technician decided to take my oven to their workshop with the promise of a... Continue Reading →
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Pigging Oven!
Well folks, my oven saga continues and it's time for a real good pigging rant! "What?" I hear you say. "Ah, but I was only warming up in my earlier oven post" I Only Want My Oven Mended…please I'm "chilled" most of the time...honestly. I was sceptical that the oven technician would even come today,... Continue Reading →
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I Only Want My Oven Mended…please
Do you remember this picture? It was my interpretation of the theme "Broken" for the “Wordpress Weekly Photo Challenge on the 6th August. It was my “Broken” oven and guess what folks? My oven is still broken! Initially, I was very impressed when the appliance engineer actually arrived on the agreed day and more or less at... Continue Reading →
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Molho de Piri Piri ~ Portuguese Piri Piri Sauce
Shortly after we moved to Portugal we discovered a gift on our doorstep - an old coffee jar containing a strange liquid. “What on earth is it?” I asked Mr. Piglet as I opened the jar to smell its contents. “Smells interesting” I proffered the jar to Mr. Piglet for his opinion. He sniffed, then... Continue Reading →
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Weekly Photo Challenge ~ Hidden
The theme for this week's WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge" is "Hidden" I know snails are a menace in the garden but I did not have the heart to stamp on him. Instead, I named him "Sid" and later deposited him safely on some adjoining shrubland. Snails (Caracóis) are VERY popular in Portugal and although you often... Continue Reading →
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101/1001 challenge
Although I love to set myself goals I must confess I’m the worlds worst at keeping my New Year’s Resolutions. However, when I spotted the 101/1001 challenge on Sarsm’s Blog I thought it sounded great fun especially as you have the support of other 101/1001 bloggers. So what is 101/1001? You set yourself 101 tasks... Continue Reading →
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Crossed Lines ~ PT or SAPO?
After traveling over, 5400km across Portugal, Spain, England and France plus two ferry crossings and five weeks away the “Grandparents Tour of Europe” (as our friends aptly named it) is over and we are now home! Exhausted we must now return to the treadmill of normality, whatever “normal” is here in this la la land... Continue Reading →
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Weekly Photo challenge “Fall” – Hedgerow Harvest
This weeks (now last week's) WordPress Photo challenge is "Fall" or Autumn. When I saw this week's theme I thought great! We are in England and the leaves are turning wonderful shades of gold and amber. The leaves are falling from the trees so I wanted to photograph them floating in the wind. Well, that was... Continue Reading →
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Size Matters!
When I saw the size of the teddy bear uncle "EBee" had bought Oliver it made me smile. When I received this photograph it made me laugh out loud. It is by far the largest and softest of ALL the wonderful "cuddly" toys he received. I am happy to report baby Oliver is now home... Continue Reading →
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Proud Grandparents “take” Two…
We’d given up on Grandchildren, and then they arrive like buses! Our first Grandchild, a beautiful little girl, was born in France on the 28th April and our, second grandchild, an adorable little boy called Oliver, was born in the UK just two days ago weighing in at 8lb 14oz! Initially, in the Special Care... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 