Helen and Peter in Portugal

Our very first visitors were the JWD family, they were with us for 8 days and it was great fun. Sam went down very well with the locals, all that blonde hair seems to work a treat. And Zack was learning four new Portuguese words a day - that's more than I can manage. I got them 'singing' Boa Tarde, Bom Dia etc after day one. These boys are quick learners. The week was spent visiting all the local watering holes, both fearless at diving in (along with Michelle who did all the jumping in despite what you may hear otherwise). I think everyones favorite place was Fragas Sao Simao, where it is idyllic jumping off the rocks into the clear (but cold) water. However, despite this wonderful vista: It is possible that the boys (grown up ones too) picked up on a different view of the local area....Sam seems to have his goggles focused on the lady in the background...my those are big! Now they have gone back to England, I have a cold (caught from Peter) and we are starting to get b...

We are learning that when you grow your own veg you need to plan carefully. If you don't plan, then you end up with a glut of the same veg all coming along at the same time. Take the simple courgette for example, everyone grows them so you cannot give them away (but we took some of our friends Jackie and Richards courgettes, so maybe that is not strictly true that you cannot give them away). The courgette needs to be eaten, it won't keep too long and we are starting to get monster ones! Our neighbour made a suggestion the other day, which was that at the start of the year we all get together and decide who is going to grow what veggies, then we share them out throughout the year. That way we have a 12 month growing cycle, never too much of one thing and everyone gets to have a bit of everything. Now, it is a good idea...I see the logic, in fact I applaud it. But isn't this how communism started...? These are some of the veggies grown by our fair hands (well Peter...

A bit more weedy than rosy, but lush and green none the less. Peter has been busy with t he veg patch, mostly filling up mole holes when we water. The moles are a problem, our lawn is full of mole hills at the moment, I've tried sticks in the holes, filling the hole with water, putting lemon down the hole (local old wives remedy) but still they pop up. We need a killer cat! The local cove cabbage grows in every garden, Jersey folk will call it a Long Jack. It's used in soups throughout the Winter and just keeps growing. All his hard work is paying off as we've had courgettes-a-plenty, lots of radish, lettuce and spinach. The tomatoes are on there way, along with the corn, beans, onions, beetroot and peppers. We've still got lots to do, the lower garden is a haven for weeds (some may call it a wild garden). We've cleared some space, but the weeds just keep on coming. So, today Peter has been out there strimming the weeds away with our neighbours strimmer. We'l...

The Festa is a big thing in Portugal, every village has their own Festa, some lasting a week but most take place over the weekend. The whole village or valley come together to walk the streets, watch the entertainment and drink! Now, I'm no expert (I have been to two so far), but I can see a theme. 1. Parade your religious/loc al hero icon 2. Hang around a bit 3. Listen to some wonderful local music 4. Wait for the entertainment to arrive, which is usually a singing group with very scantly clad women dancers! For example: Meet Nuno and the Nunetts, who performed at the Figueiró dos Vinhos Festa in June. Or the girls who performed at the local Castanheira de Pera Festa. The dances seem to be the same. Wave hands in the air (like you just don't care), wiggle at little, flick hair, repeat until fade! These events are fantastic, local community getting together. It is something that is lacking in England I think, or at least something I didn't experience in London (...

I always swore that I would not buy a pair of Crocs, I know people love them, but I never understood it. My reasons for swearing never to buy them were:- 1) They are ugly 2) They remind me of working for someone that wore them into the office 3) I never had any need for them (high heels moved to flats when I moved to Jersey, but never to Crocs). 4) It seemed everyone had them 5) I hate those awful Croc jewels that people put in them (ref #2) 6) I had a lovely pair of jelly shoes which Sarah brought back from India for me So, numerous reasons. When Peter bought his: Blue ones, from Jersey. But bought with the intention of wearing them in the garden here in Portugal, I resisted....OK, OK, I did look at various pairs of fake Crocs in the shops...I toyed with it, but mentally listing all the reasons 1 to 6 in my head I did not make a purchase. Since getting to Portugal though, I have tried out different shoes...I fell down the garden steps and hurt myself in my Moroccan slippers ...

A Portuguese bullfight differs from a Spanish one, firstly the bull is not killed, it's mostly done on horseback and it seems that only six attempts at spearing the bull are permitted. It was with some second thoughts that we made our way over the mountain to Miranda Do Covo for the bullfight. Set in a temporary rotunda stadium just out of town, the bullfight is part of the national heritage here. We'd decided to go for the experience - it was an experience. It seems that most bullfights are just a lot of posturing by the men (mostly in tight trousers)! Lots of clapping, cheering, music and trumpets sounding. You know instantly that it is steeped in tradition, even from the way the spikes are handed to the horsemen to the calls for the bull to appear. As soon as the bull came into the ring I felt that it was wrong to be there. I just couldn't look at it. I was not sure I could stay...while Peter took hundreds of photos of the bullfight I looked away. The first team di...

'Pack some things' he said. So I did! Got a little concerned when I saw the tent going in the car along with the sleeping bags, but never mind - in the spirit of adventure I'm willing to try camping again. We're off on a road trip up to Northern Portugal and beyond ...well into Spain actually! We headed up to a town called Viana Do Castelo , a town where the bridge was built by Mr Eiffel (of the tower fame) and the most Gothic looking building I've ever seen sits on top of the hill. Lunch was had in a back street place, now don't get the wrong idea here, I say back street but alas it was blooming expensive for Fish Rice . A quick trip around the town before we head to the coast for surf! Cloud coming in though as the inlet means it's hot hot hot, but cloud covers the sun. A surf had (I had a sleep on the beach behind the wind break) and we head for a seaside town called Villa Praia de Ancora . Hotel found we went exploring, a fantastic sea...