Bom Dia!

Monday around noon, the visitors arrived, cleaner Svetlana and Ben the garden and maintenance guy. I borrowed his strimmer for half an hour, after a quick talk over developments. I strimmed the right hand sector to the back of the pool and on your right as you walk down the main pathway. It was a step back in time for me, when I used to manage the 12 acres of land and garden centre grounds. It’s funny how you just don’t forget things, even the sway and to-and-fro motion aiming downwards to get the best most efficient strim.

taking advantage also of his very long metal pole which fastens to it’s end an incredibly sharp curved blade, I headed for the front side area which has grass and a more then generous amount of moss for a carpet. Three trees here, including a massive pine, two of which needed a good clean up, so up the ladder and hacking away I went.

More wood for the fire, and a much lighter area was left. Dragging this all to the camp area left me shattered so I invited Ben for a break over PG tips and a couple of packs of biscuits. Was good to chill and be sociable for ten minutes and find out about each other, rather than just the job at hand in the garden.

After he left and I couldn’t face more branches, so I reached for the machete and scythe, and continued to work down into the second part of the garden, venting my wrath against the tall unsightly dead fennel clump and spiky gorse type bushes littered all over. Keeping the fire going obviously at the same time. Can’t forget the fire!

Later, the resident robin popped across and perched enquiringly on the garden fork, scanning the patch of earth I am slowly digging over, looking I’m sure for some grubs or other to munch on, as I rested by the fire and watched the sun sink on another busy and beautiful day.

Things were slowly starting to take shape in my mind about how to lay out the area of the camp. I envisage a flat area with two sets of tiers above and below. with area to sit in this open area surrounded by the trees and plants in newly created beds. A bird table and bath, to invite the wildlife to also benefit. Sitting by the fire until dusk my mind raced with possibilities and plans.

Tuesday I was keen to build upon my plans of the day before, and built a low wall from the start of the path over to the corner of the pool wall. This created a tier with which to fill in and level off the area above, a path of gravel below in time. I messed about with the stones for ages, finding the right ones for the right place, dry stone walls not my forte and eventually satisfied with it sturdiness and poise, I left it be.

Before:

After:

On with my other objective for the day. The olive tree growing between the back of the BBQ shelter and the pool side wall I thought a perfect support for a log stack. I sorted through the masses of logs I had cut up previously, looking for the straighter and more stackable ones and began to build. Starting one at the wall and one at the base of the olive tree I created a wall of logs spanning between the trunk and up the whitewashed wall. Topped off with some icing in the form of a few lost tiles that were needing a use.

Weird Wednesday I woke to find frost on my car roof. I Didn’t sleep well and remember having a dream I’d had before. 350Z gold, front end into wall or hedge, party, trying to get home with bike lots to carry too much and can’t. Tiny bits of pipes as stabalisers? Figure that one out.

It was still early and just before 9am as I sat working on my computer, when I heard a chirping, swiveled round to watch as a bird flew straight into the lounge and no sooner, fly straight back out again. Erm, O.K. then. (?)

Back to the Mall I went to try and sort the dongle out to a higher tariff. The same guy helped me out, but this time I asked him to call the helpline and he then handed it over. Slightly flustered I grabbed the phone and muttered to the operator if she spoke English, but the line got cut off. Sheepishly I went up to the guy again and this time, instead of handing it back, he punched in the number of the dongle, and numerous others after some very pregnant pauses and after what seemed an eternity, put the phone on the counter and started to type an essay out onto his monitor, and finally told me he’d done the upgrade. Well why the, didn’t he do that for me in the first place. All the same, I was well chuffed to have sorted it out and to also have wi-fi set up now at the villa. Bonus.

The Mall is multi-leveled but with stairs just down one side, a Continente on the bottom level and various clothes outlets and mobile phone shops on the others. Pretty standard Mall I guess. It was odd after much isolation to be surrounded with all the noise and more to the point people. It was interesting seeing the different faces and features, looks and clothes on everyone. A good place to people watch. I didn’t hang about though, I’ve got lots to do. Off back to the villa!

I was inspired, partly by watching a program of hedge building in Gloucestershire or somewhere, using staggered upright stakes and then branches woven or resting between them, to create a purpose compost area. The villa owner had mentioned his frustration at not having one and I too wanted to coalesce the two large compost piles so went about my attempt. Using some old poles and lengths of timber from the garage I hammered them into some tough stony soil and formed a back wall.

Very satisfied with the start of it, and pleased it wasn’t a plastic cone or anything else unsightly and not in keeping with the surroundings, I made a start with turning and sorting through the pile of old leafs, branches and lawn trimmings. It didn’t last too long, plagued by flies and mozzie paranoia kicking in I fled to the safety of the fire.

I thought the leaves, even though still green, felt dry enough to burn, so threw a bundle on to test. Up in a loud fizz and crackle then went. Great, more got chucked on instantly. Wow, this stuff really does ignite.

Thursday midday start and I went about with carrying on a little garage clearance, bagging up things that could be and making a pile of things that couldn’t, tables t the side and hey presto, a usable area. Looking out while I worked I pictured a small stone high dividing line stretching from the end of the BBQ corner wall out to the low wall I had previously built. Spontaneity got the better of me, I dropped the garage like a brick and headed for the rake and spade to mark out my line!

Friday I worked on FREELOW in the morning until 11.30am. then went off to Pedro’s cafe with a bucket of paint.. soon there were three of us and a ‘supervisor’ busy slopping paint everywhere.. mostly the walls. Mid afternoon we all stopped for one of Manuel’s treats. A communal lunch of a massive bowl of stew, with beans, pork, chorizo, rice, piri-piri spice and bay leaves.. mm hearty filling food. :) Back to villa, and climbing trees behind the swimming pool deadwooding. Very tall and using all my strength to clamber up and down and at one point dropped the machete, thud.. just missed the pool heater. phew!

Evening came and I wallowed in the bath and lounged about until 9pm and headed out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te800CeEjBM&feature=related

This was playing very loud as I headed back to Lagos. Bar was pretty full, painter help was there with friends and kids running about. Pool played and drink drunk. Joined in the pool shared music and lost.!

Saturday was a pretty slow start to the morning, but once I did actually get going, sorted a few more rocks from the half way wall, scorching day, very very still no leaves swaying. Went off to the supermarket, lost wallet was next to car apparently as some guy handed it to me – OMG! my heart was racing. Thank goodness for very very lovely Portuguese people!

Pate and Pao de Algarve, dug over new tier area, dug out base of cut down bush, shifted left to burn leaves and chopped into leaves, small branches and finally large ones to dry and burn of the oliander Ben cut down. The only thing left!! I do keep finding the odd fallen / cut dried out branches around though.

printed google plan –  designing a tier and flat recreational area in the tree spiney.

pretty old photo!

Sunday was an early trip to the airport to pick the returning Kelly. It didn’t take long for her to get settled in again, as the camp fire flickered into action again and we continued in joint action to forage for more wood, particularly from the ‘wild side’ as in all honesty we’re running out of options in the main plot now. Which although doesn’t help the fire, feels good to have a clean and tidy plot now, with NO (or at least very very little) deadwood in it.

Monday I spent the morning on the computer until the cleaner and Ben came, which was my cue to get Ben’s advice on things and have a general catch up on progress. He spent a while strimming the top left section down to the flat mud, which really gives me a sense of the space. Sketched out the design.

More trees, that are threatening or hanging on, just came down so the cycle continues with machete and de-leaving. Being very conscientous of keeping anything over 4 foot and straight for the compost heap, which is looking very pukka!

Mid afternoon I again, took the leap of faith into the tree behind the pool, to remove two branches. I must admit they were not dead in any way and not in threat of falling off or over, but from a totally aesthetic viewpoint, marred what has become a much improved vista into the hills and lights of Portimao in the far distance as you sit and ponder from the veranda.

Tuesday I finally decided to get the chainsaw out again, and completely clean it as it had developed a squeak. Prising all the saw dust from nook and cranny, I then spent ages trying to get the side panel back in place, only to realise that I’d put the ‘brake’ on before I took it off. The metal strap which stops the main spindle from going round was smaller than the spindle, don’t you just love it when it’s something plainly obvious holding you up! In the afternoon after tidying up the mess we both were making, Kelly working her way down the side garden wall, taking out thorny bushes and weeds. We headed into Portimao on a mission for a straw hat (not for me!) some herbal t-bags and to exchange some pounds.

Wednesday evening after dropping Kelly off at the retreat, listening to the bird song, I sit in quiet contemplation, scanning again the developments of my landscaping ideas. Fire dying down and the night creeping in. The blackbird, chirping with a slight flap of its wings and a movement of the head. Small wrens in number clicking almost like a very rapid clash of two marbles, their communication reverberating around the area. The robin, and his usual investigation of where I’ve just tidied.

Thanks for reading and apologies for some bulletpointed sentences. I’m trying to catch up with things and will (maybe) expand later, but I’m sure you get the idea!

Hope the year is going well for you all so far x

Happy Chinese Solar New Year!
Year of the Yin Metal Rabbit and the 7 Metal Lake Star in 9 Star Ki. The Ki year begins with a 9 FIRE day, in an 8 EARTH (Mountain) month. May it bring you fulfillment, happiness, peace and much joy.
Here is my breakdown of the year ahead for all 9 ki stars.

2011 brings the 7 Metal Lake Star (Youngest Daughter in the I Ching) into the centre of things. A time of re-birth and change for 7 Yin Metal Stars, fluctuation and ups-and-downs can be expected during this year as you re-orientate yourself for the next cycle of 9 years…

3 Wood Stars find themselves in mid-winter, the dark static depths of midnight and the north. In a 1 Water house, it’s like a seed, which remains dormant holding onto its strength, centring in preparation for the next phase of growth; waiting for the warmth of the sun. Planning is a keyword for this year…

4 Wood Stars occupy the 2 house of preparation. This year the soil becomes warm and invites you to delve inside in readiness for the growth stage of next year. Another transition time and again, it can be frustrating as you finally come out of winter-time…

6 Metal Heaven (Father) Stars are carrying on their upward progressive movement as the year 2011 brings a continuation of last year. Buzzing with energy it is important that you don’t bite off more than you can chew as your enthusiasm and fervour may find yourself spreading a bit thinly…

The 8 Mountain Earth star (Youngest Sons), will be in the commanding FATHER 6 metal house in 2010. This house is often related to wealth, prosperity and gaining rewards from your endeavours of previous years. A position of authority, you may feel more sure of your opinions and find people look to you for leadership and guidance…

1 Water Stars move into a house of stillness. A calm before the storm of the Fire house in 2011. It is often – being an earth house – a time of change and transition. The trigram is symbolic of a Mountain, which might find you retreating into your cave and being less sociable, more introverted…

2 Earth Stars, are on Fire (9 House) this year, with a new clarity and illumination brought to the table.  As the sun peaks, it shines on you, but everything around you too, so make sure you have cleared any unwanted debris. Fame and spotlight, a good year for self promotion and launching yourself up the career ladder…

5 T’ai Chi Stars are pretty much on full force and effect being in the East and feeling the full effects of springtime. Lots of ideas, energy and a forward thinking attitude may help you to achieve loads during this time…

9 Fire Stars (Middle Daughters) are relaxing in the 7 Metal House, harvest and celebration time; a time for finally reaping the rewards of the previous few years…

To find your star simply add all the digits from your year of birth i.e. 1+9+7+2=19 :. (reduce until under 11) 1+9=10 and subtract from 11 :. 11-10 = 1! (The year runs 4th Feb to the 3rd) so if your B-day is in before 4th Feb take previous year!)

Sign up to the FREEFLOW FENG SHUI Newsletter NOW for the full forecast and yearly update for 2011

VISIT – www.freeflow-fengshui.com

Peace and Love and Light! x

David Walters Dip Chiro.

Yes, I’m still here. :)

Another eventful week or so since my last entry. I do believe, it started Friday afternoon, when I decided to escape my hermitage and seek civilization for a while. Heading for some fresh fish for a late lunch I arrived at an empty Arte Cafe to find no fresh fish. Unperturbed I stayed anyway, chatted to Pedro and ate an alternative, while listening to the moans and groans of political scandals and fixed football games. He relaxed after a while and ate chicken soup while we nattered about all sorts of things, from his age, his kids to many other stories and dreams. He was a welcoming proprietor, all service and smiles. After finding out his age and his actual age, it turns out he’s a 2 Earth star in 9 star ki – Mother, nurturing, socially oriented characters. Do a lot of 2′s enter into a life of servitude of some sort or another? The passion for his small cafe, restaurant was obvious.

In all honesty, I can see a bit of potential in the place, given some work. I tried taking a look at his wireless system and the open sided PC he uses for music occasionally, wouldn’t connect. Made all the more difficult as the operating system was in Portuguese. He talked about the open space at the back, a courtyard of sorts. Wanting to rid the long wall of its old mural not in keeping anymore and possibly commission an artist who tags around town with huge black stencils of people and other characters.

I have some very organised glasses on at the moment. I think it comes from having no real fixed agenda, and with that perspective, I’m becoming very objective.  That and the fact I’m immersed in sorting the villa grounds out. It flexes ones logistical muscles. I digress. Mostly because I want to ;P – Onwards with Friday, and vowing to return that evening on Pedro’s assurance that it gets busy Friday nights, I headed next to the supermarket for a food shop before heading home again.

Driving on the right hand side along the N125 out of Lagos, excited to have a night out and wondering what would unfold, I almost forgot to stop at the garden centre. Pulling in and with my camera in hand, I walked through the gate, to a loud buzz. The place stretched further back than I thought, with rows and rows of plants, covered tunnels and trees along the back edge. I followed the walkway and spotted a cat curled up neatly in the top of a big black planted pot, sunbathing in the late afternoon sun. I paused and lifted the lens only to see it climb to its feet and writhe past some plants and over to me. Keen it was, and after a few minutes of attention it followed me along the path some way before making a u-turn.  Up this row and down that, snapping plants I liked the look of when I eventually came to a small covered poly-tunnel. Inside were yukkas, rubber plants and a table full of succulents; very reasonably priced too. I will be back!

Anyhoo… back to my ‘night out’ – and upon entering the Arte Cafe again, I notice a distinct lack of people. Still. Some usual suspects, the chef, and me. Feeling like a game of pool I challenged the chef, a Marley fan, obvious with exodus playing on the stereo, and we shot three games with some fun interaction and banter. Time ticked by and no sooner sat at the bar again to fill my glass, I turned round to find the place half full, a group of English lads playing pool almost filling the place with just their antics. One had a straw hat and a wooden sword by his side. Obvious tourists, I watched a while and it wasn’t long before I got heckled into taking the four of them on, apparently ALL brothers by the name of King to a game. Me vs them!

It was odd as I felt more like a local than a tourist, but after many merry handshakes, lots of cheeky remarks, sarcasm, and energy, the game seemed to take forever, one yellow and one red left. My turn and I get mine down, onto the black. Watched on by the four of them, I sidled up to the table again, taking the pressure. I hit the white ball, not too hard, gently enough to get the black in, plop, into the middle pocket it went, YES! chuffed! Only to stare in disbelief as the white ball veered onwards and over into the end pocket. Noooooooooooooooooo. I fell to my knees – ok, I’d had a glass of wine. The funny thing is all the lads came over and gave me one hell of a man-group hug! – shocking. I felt the love though – or was it just a huge amount of relief and feigned sympathy.

Well, from that game on. I was a brother of their mother, a kin and bonded so far that I was next invited to have food at a Mexican place recommended by a girl they found in another bar. Along I went, what the hell. It was filled with intelligent conversation and meant well jests and I got myself a nickname, Walter. More beer flowed at the dining table and slammers slammed  when I soon started to tire of the faces and remembered I’d left without even paying for my previous wine at Pedro’s place. Back I walked across the town centre up the back alley and into the door. Full of people, some wining and others dining, I sat at the bar and ordered one more glass of red. Pedro was in full volume mode, with music filling the air, respectable music, not totally electronic and young, but a more eclectic mix. From David Bowie to random tracks off a Buena Vista Social Club soundtrack. He had a laptop with uTube all keyed up to play a tracklist he’d compiled, but shouted me over to help. No sound. He couldn’t get anything regardless of it all looking like it was where it should be. I checked the laptop settings best I could again, in Portuguese but alas. Earlier I had lent him my dongle to get the other PC on the internet but he had brought his laptop by the time he’d got it.

Still, it was nice to have someone know my name, call me from behind the bar and I totally felt like I had a social life at last, here in Portugal. :)

So that was last Friday and I type to you 10 days later on the Sunday. No, I’ll not go into such detail with he rest of the week, but here is a rather elongated summary to whet your eyes with.

Monday, after a relaxing weekend of pottering around and caring to less strenuous tasks. I bought from MaxMat a chainsaw after approval. Ben arrived just after 11.30 and I promptly asked if he could help with building it. We fitted it all together and after a return trip to Zona Commercial for some correct oil, I put on a hard hat and visor, ear defenders and gloves. Pulled the cord and after a few tense minutes of ‘have we done it right’ it sparked up and with the choke back in puttered into life.

I’ve used lots of power tools (ahem) but never a chainsaw. I was quite excited. Ben and I had ear-marked a few tree limbs that had to come down and some that he considered over-due for a hack back. These in addition to the mass of dead branches hanging still in the trees, discarded fallen trees covering two huge mounds of wanna be compost and the odd proper chunky tree trunk which needed chopping into fire welcoming chunks.

It didn’t take long to fell two trees one needed and another not so, clean up some stray ends and work from the front garden into the part next to the garage car park area. We both had a go and we stopped as he was concerned about the amount of waste we had already accumulated. He knew then, as my lack of experience didn’t that it takes some getting rid of.

Monday night it howled with rain and so did the following morning. Constantly aware that my mound of waste from the front garden along the wall, was getting rained on. From the veranda above I looked down onto the wet tangle of vines, branches and total carnage left from Monday in slight dismay.

Tuesday came and the clouds lightened enough to give me a window in which to make a start.

Ignoring most of the chopped trees I decided to light a bonfire, and with some instant-flame blocks got some dry twigs to light and heat up enough to build upon. So it began, a moment of change. What followed until today has been one of a complete ‘lightening’ of the whole property.

I’ve totally removed from pretty much everywhere ALL the dead wood. The means trees, chopped from before, and left to dry on piles in numerous corners of the garden and over the wall into the ‘wild’ side. I’ve been stood up a ladder with a saw, sometimes climbing the trees to get at the brown snappable branches. Fire raging, it has been for more hours than I can count, Tuesday until this very moment, bar a little of Friday (well, I was being sociable!). The trees with growth still on, I’ve sawed down to manageable chunks, gradually! – ripping with hands the rest, mostly.

The area just below the curved edged drive ending has slowly turned into a campsite. One particular tree trunk, which was a factor in giving need for the chainsaw in the first place, turned out the other day, by sheer chance, to be a most amazing seat! You can sit with your legs fitted to its curving shape and a handy branch behind you to rest your aching back. Fantastic. I marveled at how it came about. Just what you need when you need it. :)

It’s been a logistical experience for sure, how to go about dealing with it all. I’ve now got four large piles of drying twigs and leaves, one pile of large branches, and one platform I meshed together with straighter branches, in a design for drying the leaves on, so they were off the ground and in the sun. I’ve plucked stones from the top of a square low structure almost hidden in the weeds to make a fire pit surround. Constantly feeding the hungry fire, today I pulled down a huge tree, barely alive but one small leafy branch.

In taking down these trees maybe older than me, touching the landscape with care and attention, I aim to help the energy lift. I think it has. The fire has in some way started to put life back into the garden, allowing it to breathe a little easier. All the dark, dry and outgrown life down to ashes, dust to return once more to earth. Trees in which deadwood was, are now sleek and uncluttered, climbing upwards. Letting more light through to the area below, I can almost visualize more plants here now, as I watch each day the sun pass from East to west, lighting up different areas as it goes. The view down into the garden has opened up loads. You now have a vista in which you want to explore.

Each night I’ve reluctantly left the warmth of the glowing fire, not wanting to have bricks and mortar around me. I do actually think I’ve become rather fond of working outside again, connecting with the land and natures surroundings. I’ve worked my ass off this past week, but I don’t see it as work, it’s been amazing. I love the physical side of being here. It’s hugely satisfying, and being inside whether it’s work or forced by the rain, becomes less and less appealing. Otherwise, I’ve been spending all of it in my makeshift camp. Burning tons of wood!

That’s all for now..  What’s next I wonder! – Adeus – :)

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last update, Kelly flew back to the UK last Friday, and apart from the face to face interaction with Ben the weekly visitor and maintenance guy, it’s been a time of solitude. I have to admit I’m finding it quite hard. Trips to the supermarket mean I can mingle with other human beings, limitedly, but no conversation drives me to skype often and credit those who are available to answer.

Each morning I wake around 8am, and often get woken during the night with dogs barking, guarding the various properties nestled atop Monte Judeu. You would have thought from the amount of them there is trouble with burglars and break-ins. The mornings for the past 10 days at least have been glorious, sun rising over the trees to the left as I stand on the rear veranda, wispy streaks of clouds giving the horizon a feint hue of orange as it rises majestically upwards to warm my face.

The birdsong is truly varied, with blackbirds, robins, sparrows and many other birds I have yet to discover what they are. There’s a blue-ish bird with a long tail and a black cap, hooting in a high pitched way, gradually darting off downhill during the morning. They float down the gradient almost effortlessly, but when forced to fly they look cumbersome, appearing to struggle with their long tail which drags behind them.

The amount of dew each morning has been lessening with each passing dry day. I’ve even had to water some of the plants, particularly the one in the raised bed on the veranda, full of succulents, which although loving dry conditions, look a bit parched. It’s easy to see why water becomes a very precious commodity in the strong heat of summer. I’m keen eventually to build a water store to help with irrigation too, but all in good time.

Working on my FREEFLOW projects in the mornings, keeps me pretty busy until around noon. Fresh orange juice and the occasional smoothie, croissants, and a cereal I am loving with apple and cinnamon, puffed rice and a mixture of wheat flakes builds me up to get out in the sunshine in the afternoon.

It’s great to be working on the garden, and I have found myself pottering around starting this and that, but in a sense, building overall towards turning the villa into a much loved haven. The mass of overgrown weeds and vines on the left front side of the plot has taken me pretty much all week on and off to clear. Underneath all the tendrils of up to an inch thick rope-like vine is a beautiful rich orange coloured dry stone wall,  how old, I can only guess.

I’ve been working with a long sleeved top, hat and gloves and sometimes a jumper on, not because it’s cold, but to protect myself from the mass of mosquitoes that hum about at all hours. swatting at them when spied out of the corner of my eye and seem to be getting the better of them after a few bites early on. Despite that, it’s easy to get overheated and I do stop for regular breaks and flee to the safety of the veranda, ripping off my tops, panting for a glass of water.

Fallen trees, dried in the heat, lay here and there on the grounds. Gradually, I’m putting together a couple of big fires to light at some point. I really need a chain saw though to sort out the main trunks, as my bare hands just won’t do it! – Making do for now by sorting all other branches with a flex of muscles. These and the enormous pile of undergrowth I’ve ripped up, should be one hell of a blaze!!

I’m very fond of plants, care for them tenderly and have had amazing displays of all sorts of succulents in my old flat back in Norwich, but I have found myself not caring for vines ripping them out almost with disdain. Today I trimmed a few straggly bits off the carob tree outside of the kitchen window which were bugging me as I washed up. Constantly during the process I felt an empathy for the huge aged tree, apologising for taking my secateurs to it. Justifying my actions in believing it would allow it to put more worthy energy into it’s great, spreading  limbs above.

Trying to get better CHI into the property, I’ve scrubbed the white walls which bend inwards to hold the main gate. Ridding it of patches of green slime, and trimming the hedge away from the lights on top of the pillars either side. To me, it’s important to invite good energy into a property, not just for those living there but for those to find it too. In the back of my head, I am constantly using my Feng Shui knowledge and intuition to benefit the villa.

The gravel drive comes in and then sweeps down past the left side of the villa and to the back ending to a raised parking area in front on the garage. The problem is, most of it doubles up as a river bed, when storms hit and rain forces its way through the white grit along forged ruts downhill. This is going to constantly happen and regardless of filling the ruts, (which I am gradually doing) it’s going to happen again.

There’s a pretty large pile of surplus grit right at the bottom end of the grounds, past the tennis court and into the virgin scrub of the next plot. It took me over an hour the other day to make a path suitable to wheel the barrow along and able to fill it with grit. Fighting my way through the tall, now dead old wood of a type of fennel… ..Well it smells like fennel. Anyway, finally getting the wheelbarrow to the mound of gravel I filled it up – FULL, navigated my way back, around orange trees, over the tall clover-like carpet, up the hill along the straight path to the area in front of the garage – I almost collapsed! Jeeeez, I dashed inside and grabbed a banana, my legs were shaking, light headed with exhaustion! LOL – It’s easy to get carried away, well I do get stuck into things.

It’s the immediate results of gardening/landscaping which is so satisfying. My other work, although gratifying, doesn’t give the same – look what I did and it’s there right in front of you – you can touch it and feel it – sense it and if you cared to, taste it!

It’s late, I’m tired and I will type more soon.

Love and Light :)

Day 1

We woke around 8am Tuesday the 4th, still feeling pretty shattered form the journey, but excited to explore and see what has changed around the villa, but first stop was the supermarket – Continente – for some milk and other essentials. I’d brought with me a huge box of PG tips, as the cha noir just doesn’t cut it. Off we trotted back down the windy road to the N125 and up the hill to the Centro Commercial, pulled up outside the front door and noticed it wasn’t open yet, only a few minutes to 9am, so we waited. A nice familiarity again, as I headed in and straight to where the red over-sized basket/trolleys are kept. One pull up handle and an other to carry it if you wanted to, together with a set of wheels on one side. A bit like the old granny shopping trolleys but without the tartan canvas!

Provisions bought we headed back to the villa, as I was keen to get all my computer gear set up and to test out the 3G dongle for strength. Laptop out, dongle in, punch in the code and hey-presto! Easy as that. So, while I unpacked from their protective bubble-wrap and cling film, my two desktop machines, monitors and masses of cables, Kelly went to explore the grounds. Returning with a bag bulging with an assortment of oranges, some of which turned out to be grapefruit, strangely enough, being smaller than the actual oranges. She handed me a piece of orange which tasted divine, freshly picked and juicy as hell, and almost immediately she went into the kitchen in search of something to juice the rest with. Minutes later I heard the whir of a machine and gleeful Kelly appeared once more with a glass full to the brim – with bits!

The sky was clearing by midday and we both took a stroll around the grounds. I was amazed at how lush and fertile the land looks, much changed since October, where simply bare soil and an arid feel has been replaced with swathes of a large clover-like plant with yellow flowers. The fruit trees barely holding onto bulging round oranges, birds everywhere and a moist, spongy feeling to the ground underfoot.

The rest of the day consisted of mainly sunbathing (topless – ;) and relaxing on the veranda overlooking to pool. Evening came and we ate a mixed seafood medley; squid, muscles and clams with rice spiced with chilli.  One things was missing though from our meal, which we ended up going back to the store for – WINE! What an omission.
Day 2
After a slow start in the morning, we decided to head to Lagos, about 6 miles west. A large coastal town and harbour with cobbled streets and a somewhat touristy feel. The day wasn’t as bright but didn’t look like rain, yet not warm enough to leave jackets at home. Into the car we headed down towards the N125 again, past several orange groves, where the fruit lay on the floor around the trees, wondering why they hadn’t been harvested.

Arriving in Lagos, we followed signs for ‘centro’ and parked along the harbour front, €2 for a 3 hour ticket and wandered into town. The streets were pretty empty with a mixture of tourists and locals. I’d been here before, so knew the main causeway through town, but we took a different route. It’s a maze of roads and pedestrian walkways, the later made up of tiny cream and black blocks into shapes and patterns. It must have taken an age to pave. We stumbled across and entered a health food shop, as Kelly was after some coconut oil. Most of the others where either run of the mill household stores or tacky tourist ones.

Feeling slightly lost, we finally stumbled upon the main pathway leading through the town, restaurants and bars either side. Recognizing again where we were, I felt compelled to find a small restaurant/bar previously visited in October called Moon Rising where they had free wi-fi and also where I had had a chat to the patron over a pint of Sagres. I remember talking to him about football as it was playing on the screens inside, so I wanted to see if he was still working there having mind to ask if they needed any players for their Monday night 5 aside team. Pausing next to a familiar tourist sign and looking right up a small street I expected to see a sign but didn’t. I doubted it was the correct street as I couldn’t see it, so we carried on, only to run out of anything commercial along our path. We headed back and took the street where we paused earlier, gut instinct paid off. No longer Moon Rising, the sign above the door was re-branded The Art Bar, no wonder. Without hesitation we opened the twin black wooden doors and up the steps. Yep, this was the place, as I spied the guy busy behind the bar. He acknowledged us and I quizzed the change of name, mentioning I’d only been gone 10 weeks and the place had not only changed name but the interior was also repainted.

I ordered a small Sagres, and Kelly a green tea and we all chatted for a while, and eventually I mentioned football and we swapped phone numbers, on the premise of a space if someone drops out anytime. Noon came, and his chef arrived, so we ordered some food. Light fluffy battered catfish with rice for me and Kelly ordered the pan fried squid in garlic and onion sauce. Yum, clean plates all round!

We got back to the car after walking along the harbour front, fish clearly visible at the waters edge, nibbling away at algae. Not five minutes into the journey back, a warning light appeared on the car dash, the same one that lights up when the handbrake is on. DOH! – I signed in dismay, yet carried on as certain nothing was terribly wrong, since it only recently passed its MOT.

We got back to the villa after a quick visit to MaxMat on the inroad to Portimão to pick up a wheelbarrow, spade and rake for work to come on the land around the villa. I checked the brake fluid, all fine, and then decided to take the near side wheel off as Lee had mentioned the handbrake this side was not working as well as it should. Busy with tools and the job at hand I started as something rushed past me, seemingly as startled as I was. It was a beige dog, small, but larger than a terrier, a mongrel of sorts with a nervous expression as I called out to it. It stopped and hesitantly weighed me up. (Laraine the villa owner had mentioned last time we were here that her son had seen a van literally dump the dog and drive off after we spotted the dog the day we left, so I knew of this stray and have been given the task of trying to befriend it.) He stood for a while and so i rushed inside and hastily grabbed some dog food we got from MaxMat just in case we saw it. He was still hanging around on my return so I offered him the dish, urging him at the same time in a low, soft, encouraging tone. He didn’t want to know, sniffing the ground and peering at me at the same time. I left the food some distance away from the car and continued with my job at hand. He settled into a ball and just watched me uninterested in venturing any closer. I was quite a moment. I felt honored he would stop and feel comfortable enough to rest, but at the same time excited in the prospect of just giving him a friendly stroke on the back. Kelly came out after a while, cautiously up the path from the villa front door, his ears pricked up and he moved away further, obviously incredibly nervous of humans. Ten minutes later and after a brief nose around the car and close area, he walked calmly out of the gate and made his way up the road.
Day 3
Waking up early and keen to take a further look at the intermittent problem with the car, I gave Kelly the job of putting together the wheelbarrow, only to discover the box didn’t contain any nuts and bolts. We were planing on going into Portimão to explore so we picked up the missing bits on the way through, receipt in hand. Portimão is much larger and busier than Lagos, more of a ‘working’ town and after putting the car in an underground car park, noticed it was also pretty neglected in places. Bricked up doorways, pealing plaster and a generally less pretty feel about it.

We guessed our way, following on foot sign posts to ‘centro’ again, and found a large open square, with a strange scaffold looking structure, which on second glance resembled a Christmas tree covered in clear lights. Very unimpressive during the day, and we could only guess that it looked much better at night. Carrying on, we eventually found the centre of town and the high street, brand name shops and rather expensive looking stores boasting discounts and liquidation signs. Not stopping we soon came to the end of the main street and spotted a sign for a small teashop called The Copper Kettle. Spotting ‘Full English Breakfast’ on the board outside we entered and were greeted in English by a blonde lady by the name of Sandy. She was incredibly helpful, keen to give us maps of Portimão and other towns along the coast, nattering about pros and cons of living and setting up in Portugal.

Back at the villa we set about putting the wheelbarrow together now armed with nuts and bolts, only to now find a missing wheel brace and the lack of a further 4 required bolts.. grrrr.. so off I trotted back to MaxMat again wheelbarrow on the back seat, receipt in hand in disgust. After a five minute wait I left with 4 more bots and the missing piece taken from another box, headed back to the villa stopping at the petrol station on the way to pump up the wheel for the barrow only to find it wouldn’t inflate. Unbolting the two sides of the wheel I pulled out the inner tube to see it had two splits in it!!!! Back I went and with a face of thunder, not even an apology was offered as I insisted the replacement wheel was pumped up before I left for the fourth time!

Anyway… Wheelbarrow finally built, we headed to Lagos that evening and treated ourselves to a lovely meal sat outside under the heaters, swordfish for me, salmon for Kelly.
Day 4
Alvor Beach! – Can’t believe we didn’t find this on first visiting Portugal in October, being only 15 minutes away. It’s couple of miles of sandy beach ending on the east side with impressive rocks and strange brick structures placed into them. As we arrived in the ton centre we parked up as soon as we saw a parking space, and using a ‘free maps’ map, navigated our way across some wasteland towards the sea. WOW – sand as far as the eye could see, anglers dotted along the shore, fishing lines stretching into the waves.

After sitting for a while, basking in the sunshine and listening to the ebb and flow of the sea crashing onto the beach we headed left towards a rocky outcrop that jutted out, seeming to close one end of the beach off. A stray (possibly) dog with a collar and telephone number tag, playfully greeted us, happy to be our companion as we leisurely strolled. All the way to the end it came with, fetching anything you cared to throw for it.

A very handily placed bar/restaurant just off the beach here made a great place to get some refreshments and we ordered cha verde. An almost army of sparrows flew down, several taking sand baths and others looking as if they wanted feeding. They reminded me of a dog at supper time, sitting only a few feet away, twitching head ready to peck up a morsel. I tempted them with a mock cupped hand but they weren’t having that.

Totally recommend visiting this place!!!
Day 5 & 6 – The first weekend
I bought some new brake pads for the back of the car, and spent the morning on Saturday fitting those, with a few complications. I’ll not bore you with the details, but will only add that I had to fit the old ones back on (only to one side – TUT TUT – much to the manuals and any mechanics disgust!) for now. Still the warning light persists!!

Apart from that we both took the weekend off if you like, no pressure, simply hanging out at the villa enough food and wine for a couple of days and enjoyed a reprise from adventuring and the pressures of general life. nice down-time!
Day 7
Monday – and we were expecting a visit from Ben, who comes weekly to take care of the swimming pool and other odd jobs about the place. It was scorchio!!! So we both stripped off and lay stretched out on the loungers in the heat, coconut oiled up and basked until we heard the grinding of wheels on gravel right by the pool. Ben had arrived an hour early! LOL

Nice chap, we chatted for a while and I let him get on with repairs, as the swimming pool had been turned off for the last week as some sand had invaded the pool from the filtering system. Another head popped over the balcony as we chatted from below, it was the cleaner.

We popped out to do the ceremonial trip to Zona Commercial for some more wine, and I treated myself to a huge beef steak. Arriving back Ben had returned from getting some spare parts and busied himself with fixing the filter. eventually finishing at around 3pm, he left. We felt almost invaded in our little paradise oasis for most of the day. Strange to have company at the villa as both the cleaner (Svetlana) and Ben went about their work.

The evening sun dipped uncovered by any clouds and we gazed upon its splendour, able to look straight into it, red, then pink, wobbling constantly in our vision.

The journey started in the very early hours of Sunday the 2nd, 4am wake up time, in cold and dark Norwich. I jumped out of bed and without even making a cup of tea, dressed and proceeded to pack the car of what was left of my belongings. Wrapped up in several layers and a heavy coat I crammed the car the best I could and just managed to get everything in. Hoorah!

Thankfully, the recent snow and ice had thawed away to leave a fairly dry road surface, and we raced on out of Norwich along the A11 towards London in the dark. Hardly a soul on the roads, the journey down the the M25 was quick and without hitch. Signs of congestion at junction 24 and 25 appeared and I gambled on heading clockwise and over the Dartford bridge. Throwing a couple of nuggets into the hod, the barrier raised and we continued around to Junction 10 only to stop once at a almost deserted service station for a large tea and a stretch of legs.

The sun eventually peaked through the clouds to our left as we headed south along the A3 towards Portsmouth. An auspicious start to our long journey as we made good time and felt anticipation of arriving at the port.

We arrived in Portsmouth harbor at around 9am, to find rows of cars and mobile homes already queued up in ceremonial accord. Passing through passport control, we placed a tag on the rear view mirror and were given our cabin keys, and made our way to the end of line. Excited and relieved to have made it down so easily, we jumped out and headed to a rather ramshackle set of buildings for another set of refreshments and a break from the confines of the car. No sooner sat down, only to hear an announcement to return to our vehicles as embarkation was imminent. Here we go!!

well almost. We filed row at a time through to another large waiting area and ceremoniously queued up again just behind the ferry and watched a car after car, caravan, mobile home and vans were loaded up. Our turn came after around an hours wait and we were guided towards the front of the boat and shuffled the car between two huge pillars and wedged between other vehicles, with a foot or so either side.

Grabbing our day bags we headed out of the ‘garage’ and up three flights of stairs to find our cabin 6246. A poky little cabin with a thin single bed against the wall and en-suite. Dismayed at the thought of having to sleep top-to-tail we almost missed noticing a drop down bunk which lowered from the ceiling. Phew!

Up to deck 7 and a comfortable set of seats right at the front of the boat made us welcome and we slumped, exhausted and excited.

24 hours later and after a pretty uncomfortable nights sleep, we arrived in Santander.

The ferry passed so close to a sand bank on the way into the harbour, it was hardly believable that it wouldn’t become grounded, deftly steering the front of the ship into position we all eagerly grabbed bags and stood waiting to gain entry into the garage and return to our vehicles. Only minutes passed and then it was our turn to disembark, no ramp, just straight off and into another queue, but this time for Spanish passport control. A quick glance at our documents and ourselves and we were free to go!

Drive on the right, drive on the right… we headed out of Santander and into the hills. It was warm, sunny and slightly overcast as we pushed onwards, through tunnels and winding mountain roads. Through Torrelavega, and onto Palencia, Valladolid and Salamanca unabated along clean and clear roads. The hills of northern Spain were replaced with land which reminded us of home, flat and agricultural. We made excellent time, stopping only twice for petrol, the second time, as dusk closed in, near Cáceres.

So, it happened that we entered Portugal at Badajoz without even a welcome! The only give-away being a difference in the road signs. Elated and somewhat disappointed not to receive a huge applause we proceeded onwards through a toll gate heading to Lisbon E90 in the dark. The roads were fantastic, no pot holes and very little traffic at 7.30 in the evening, I was fixed to the road ahead. One more pit stop for petrol just before we turned south down the A2, another smooth sleek road, being overtaken by cars travelling well over 100 mph. My steady 120 kph (75 mph) seemed a snails pace.

At last, signs for Faro, Lagos and names I remember from my trip over in October, how exciting! We turned right onto the A22 after paying just over €27 in tolls, we counted down the junction numbers to 4 where I turned off and relied on memory for the very last part of the journey. No problem, it was as if it were yesterday; even though in the pitch black, we turned up the road from the N125 heading to Monte Judeu, passed the recycling lay-by under the A22 and viaduct through the one car width bridge and winding our way into the foothills. I got so excited at being on the final 100 yards I floored the car and was promptly reprimanded by Kelly, ironic at doing 10 hours previously without even a murmur!

Jumping out of the car at just past 10pm on the 4th January, Kelly opened the gates to let me through to park up on the gravel drive in front of the villa. Muito Bem!

How relieved was I! – The car was a dream, and my co-pilot did fantastic (thanks TomTom ;-) )

We unpacked the car in a daze, headed towards the kettle and pretty much to bed straight afterwards. We made it, totally shattered from 2 days travelling and my Mum really wouldn’t be happy I did the whole drive without swapping with Kelly, but I was determined and yes, ever-so slightly stubborn. 650 miles – easy!