A Creative Spirit
How do you feel about owners bringing their dogs on to beaches unchecked and without a leash? Should they be banned in the high season especially on Blue Flag beaches? The reason I ask these questions is despite signs clearly displaying dogs are prohibited on certain beaches, some owners think this rule does not apply... Continue Reading →
As summer draws to a close and my experiment to see which fruit, vegetables and herbs would grow successfully in pots comes to an end - I look back on the highs and lows. I’m not keen on the word failures but secretly I have to admit to myself there were several. For example, one... Continue Reading →
Take me out of my familiar surroundings in Portugal, plant me in France and I feel like an alien newly arrived from Mars. My attempt at pigeon French, unlike my Portuguese, was apparently so incomprehensible I was viewed as some alien being. Hmmm mental note to google Martians to see what they look like! I... Continue Reading →
Elusive pickling onions September is the month Hubby normally pickles his onions! For the uninitiated pickled onions are small onions preserved in vinegar and spices and usually accompany: cheese; turkey or beef sandwiches; fish and chips etc. A strange combination, but trust me absolutely delicious! In the UK it was so easy to just pop... Continue Reading →
As summer fades and we move into autumn, lazy days on the beach are unfortunately numbered for this year. It will soon be time to swap our bikinis for fleeces and sunbathing for brisk but exhilarating walks along the shoreline! One of my favourite beaches is Monte Clérigo. It's almost like stepping back in time... Continue Reading →
Try as I may, I just can’t understand the Portuguese passion for Bacalhau. Why is it so popular when there's such a wonderful selection of fresh fish readily available and far cheaper? It's as stiff as a board, smells disgusting and looks about as appetizing as the prospect of munching on chipboard. In fact, it's... Continue Reading →
Praia do Zavial is one of my favourite beaches. It is located on the Western Algarve in an area of outstanding natural beauty unspoilt by the ravages of mass tourism and concrete highrise. You will not find neat rows of sun loungers complete with parasols (concession areas) or banana boat rides, nor tourist shops and... Continue Reading →
Shopping!! I absolutely hate supermarket shopping with a passion! Living quite a way from the big supermarkets, as we do, I organize meal plans and my store cupboard with military precision. However, we usually end up visiting at least 3 supermarkets to make sure we procure everything on the “list”. The shopping expedition usually involves... Continue Reading →
The beautiful insects featured below all live in my garden. We exist in parallel worlds in harmony just hoping our paths rarely cross (well I do)!! My garden is a haven for various insects where my plants and vegetables provide sustenance equal to a three-star Michelin restaurant! I would love to identify them...please can anyone... Continue Reading →
Shopping – The survival guide and more... ...or should I say a stress free guide? 1. Write your shopping list in Portuguese. This is really useful if you are unable to find a product and you do not speak Portuguese. You can at least point and grunt to the item on your list when asking... Continue Reading →
Are you a “Technomuppet”, Technophobe or a "Techie"? I have just checked an online dictionary and there does not appear to be a definition for "Technomuppet" so perhaps one needs to be created...any ideas please? I am new to blogging and the challenges presented by the behind the scenes WordPress Dashboard are still, for me,... Continue Reading →
"Fado cannot be explained, it must be felt and experienced” (quote from http://www.fado.com) The word fado I am told means fate but the music portrays a far wider range of emotions from love, betrayal, sorrow, death, hopelessness, passion and more - in truth all the emotions we feel and can relate to. I personally believe... Continue Reading →
Silves Medieval Fair (7th- 15th August 2010) Video of opening Procession The annual Medieval Fair is held over nine days and well worth noting in your diary for future reference should you ever visit the Algarve during this time. This year the fair covers the period of the Moorish domination - five centuries of urban... Continue Reading →
This is a pictorial guide to just some of the unusual insects, bugs and critters which inhabit my garden. I have not, as yet identified "what" they are or whether they are friend or foe - so if you can help - that would be great! We live in harmony, each of us avoiding the other;... Continue Reading →
Normally, you have to wait about a month to see a Doctor at our local Centre de Saúde (Health Centre). Even then, you can’t guarantee the Doctor will actually turn up! Probably the scarcities of appointments are due to people booking appointments on a ‘just in case I’m ill’, basis. You can imagine my surprise... Continue Reading →
This is a great recipe for a quick and simple lunch complimented by a couple of glasses of Portuguese white wine. I was originally told this recipe was called Salad Nicoise but I have since been informed (after a heated debate with some French friends, from Nice) that it's not! Authentic Salad Nicoise apparently does not... Continue Reading →
There are many things to consider when moving to Portugal but the one question that seems to be the top of most peoples list is... "How much will it actually cost to live in Portugal?" It was certainly on the very top of my list and I spent hours on the internet looking for clues,... Continue Reading →
One of the downsides of living close to the beautiful beaches of the Western Algarve is the Tourist Season or as we have aptly named it “The Terrorist Season” Portuguese, Spanish, French and a handful of British Tourists descend on this normally quiet and as yet unspoilt area from mid July to the end of... Continue Reading →
Piglet’s Courgette and Tomato Chutney My courgettes (after a rather feeble start) have now grown to the size of marrows! Presented with a 'glut' of both marrow sized courgettes and tomatoes I decided to make some chutney rather than taking the easiest option which would have been to freeze them. Ingredients 2lb courgettes (peeled) 1lb... Continue Reading →
The internet is certainly a great place to interact and share hobbies and interests with people from all over the world. I recently started corresponding with a lovely lady in Northern Portugal and soon discovered she shared my passion for growing her own vegetables and even saved her own seeds. She kindly sent me a... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 