Above: Kayaking on the Arade River, from Ferragudo
January 2022 -- Life in our piece of Paradise on Earth gets better and better every day. With Covid potentially becoming a distant bad memory, we anticipate that FINALLY, our family can come and visit. Events anticipated this year: Dubai in February; Netherlands in May, followed by Keith Urban concert in Dusseldorf, and family visits spring to summer. Update: Dubai cancelled due to another Covid outbreak fear, Keith Urban concert was cancelled in Germany. The map shows our location in the Algarve. |
January 6 -- The Agave plant pictured below is now in bloom, a 10-year-in-the-making event. Once it completes its blooms, it drops its seeds building a new colony and then the big beautiful plant dies. Nature is amazingly entertaining in Portugal as the plant cycles change in front of our eyes. Thousands of beautiful bumble bees are sucking the nectar from the Agave flowers as if they too know how special the event is. To view the photos below, double click the image. The house party was hosted by Nancy; paintings by Liz Allen, our yard, a puzzle from hell, and a view of one of the beautiful beaches in our neighbourhood.
January 12-- Friday during a close padel tennis match with partner Con, I sprinted for a short ball, missing it, landed on my head, and broke my collarbone. Con drove me to the Alvor Hospital. By the next afternoon, I was recovering from surgery in my private room overlooking the ocean. It'll be a few months before I can return to the court. It's a time to slow down physically, a big challenge for me. Below, the view from my hospital room.
January 27 -- Finally, we found the perfect kitchen stovetop backsplash for us, pictured below. It's 12 hand-painted tiles capturing a typical Portuguese fishing village. Con temporarily fixed it until our tilers return in March.
The Almond trees sure let everybody know that spring has sprung in the Algarve.
Last week, carpenter work was completed on the seven new inside doors. What a mess, but well worth it.
My collarbone is healing as it should, so Con and I will carry on with our plans to visit Dubai next week.
The Almond trees sure let everybody know that spring has sprung in the Algarve.
Last week, carpenter work was completed on the seven new inside doors. What a mess, but well worth it.
My collarbone is healing as it should, so Con and I will carry on with our plans to visit Dubai next week.
Above, Con giving one of our nine bougainvilleas a spring haircut; x-ray of my break, and the titanium plate and screws.
January 30 -- Last night, we attended the jazz concert, pictured above, at the beautiful Lagoa Concert Hall. Tickets were €10 for second-row, centre seats. Every minute was enjoyable. During an intimate moment when one of the ladies was singing acapella, a cell phone just over from us began ringing in a competing pitch. The singer stopped, waited for the phone, spoke a few abrupt words in Portuguese which I haven't learned, and then started the song again.
Canada Freedom Rally
We're following Canada's Freedom Rally, which started as a group of truckers convoying to Ottawa from all over Canada and the USA with the goal of having Trudeau understand the hardships for the few 10 percent unvaccinated truckers who must quarantine for 14 days once they cross the federal border. The rally spread across Canada with tens of thousands braving Canada's cold temperatures to join in. Canada is currently the most covid-controlled country in the world. Britain, parts of the EU, and the USA have declared an end to the pandemic rules. Trudeau has not met with any of the people who made the journey and instead makes this statement: "They are a fringe minority who hold unacceptable views, racists, with extremists ideas who do not represent Canada". The trucker's peaceful rally idea has spread across European countries and into Australia. Pictures borrowed from the internet.
Update: Trudeau, rather than meeting with the truckers called the never-before Emergency War-time Act and with the help of the NDP it was passed. Trudeau then closed parliament, cleared Ottawa of the truckers, taking some away some of the peaceful legal protesters to prison, froze the bank accounts of those who donated to the rally. He shut down the Act, and reopened parliament before the Senate could vote the Act down.
Canada Freedom Rally
We're following Canada's Freedom Rally, which started as a group of truckers convoying to Ottawa from all over Canada and the USA with the goal of having Trudeau understand the hardships for the few 10 percent unvaccinated truckers who must quarantine for 14 days once they cross the federal border. The rally spread across Canada with tens of thousands braving Canada's cold temperatures to join in. Canada is currently the most covid-controlled country in the world. Britain, parts of the EU, and the USA have declared an end to the pandemic rules. Trudeau has not met with any of the people who made the journey and instead makes this statement: "They are a fringe minority who hold unacceptable views, racists, with extremists ideas who do not represent Canada". The trucker's peaceful rally idea has spread across European countries and into Australia. Pictures borrowed from the internet.
Update: Trudeau, rather than meeting with the truckers called the never-before Emergency War-time Act and with the help of the NDP it was passed. Trudeau then closed parliament, cleared Ottawa of the truckers, taking some away some of the peaceful legal protesters to prison, froze the bank accounts of those who donated to the rally. He shut down the Act, and reopened parliament before the Senate could vote the Act down.
February 2 -- Yesterday, the remaining 17 staples were taken out of my shoulder. Healing is on track. With another Covid outbreak and the possibility of lockdown complications, and my collarbone still on the mend, we cancelled our Dubai trip forfeiting our airline tickets. Con's greatest fear was further injury to my collarbone. Below, a look at the construction taking place at Ceu Grande.
March 7 -- We changed the roof line as viewed from the front to hide the solar panel. Today, the carpenters arrived to begin the carport; tile is now ready to be laid at the front entrance. Meanwhile, I had my first doctor check up in Portugal. Dr. Habeck came highly recommended, and his clinic is five minutes from our house. My check up was one hour long. I gave him a history, he took notes, set me up for tests to check my vitamin levels and about 20+ other things which will be done at a separate clinic, along with a mammogram and bone density test. He wrote out prescriptions, did an ultra sound to check my organs, and an EKG. The session ended with a shingles shot. It was the most thorough check up I've ever experienced and this is just Part 1. Once the results are received, I will be called back to see what vitamins, etc. I might need, if any. I was impressed.
March 23 -- Liquid gold has been falling from the sky off and on this week. Con and I planted new border shrubs as many are old and thinning. We cut some of the oleander trees to about two meters high. All of a sudden, we feel a bit exposed. Our gardeners tell us they'll fill in within a month! Nature grows in front of our eyes.
April 23 -- Surprise surprise! Daughter Lindsey, hubby Les, 7-year-old Kate, and 5-year-old Amy arrived from Red Deer, Canada for ten days of pure bliss. Today is our last full day together before returning to cold and snowy Red Deer. They all were good travelers, getting over jet lag in a day or two, but that didn't stop them from playing in the pool. Seven of the ten days they were here, we had excellent weather, leaving the last three days below normal temperatures, keeping them from splashing in the pool. Their ten days were packed with pool time, treasure hunts, planting flowers, "nature walks" in the yard, as Amy called it, spying the full moon in the night with binoculars, hiking the cliffs above the Atlantic, beach visits, sand castles, seeing an enormous octopus, getting plowed by waves, ice cream, shopping, a visit to Sagres (the corner -- just Les and Con) and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
May 20 -- Building our log-cabin studio
Con and I have put in full days staining the studio and getting the foundation level and sealed. We've gone as far as we can together, as the next step is lifting the large window into place. I can barely lift it three inches off the ground. Geert, Con's brother and Loes our sister in law arrives from The Netherlands tomorrow for much needed muscle. Tomorrow, two hours after their arrival, my plane takes off for Toronto. I'm excited to see Doug and Merrilee, especially after the scare last year with Doug's frightening infection. Wednesday, I'll be in Texas soaking up family. Lindsey, Kate 7, and Amy 5, arrive Thursday. Shhhh, it's a belated birthday surprise for 13-year-old Hailey. The cousins haven't seen each other in about four years.
Con and I have put in full days staining the studio and getting the foundation level and sealed. We've gone as far as we can together, as the next step is lifting the large window into place. I can barely lift it three inches off the ground. Geert, Con's brother and Loes our sister in law arrives from The Netherlands tomorrow for much needed muscle. Tomorrow, two hours after their arrival, my plane takes off for Toronto. I'm excited to see Doug and Merrilee, especially after the scare last year with Doug's frightening infection. Wednesday, I'll be in Texas soaking up family. Lindsey, Kate 7, and Amy 5, arrive Thursday. Shhhh, it's a belated birthday surprise for 13-year-old Hailey. The cousins haven't seen each other in about four years.
May 23 -- A cold front has arrived in Toronto along with a nasty storm that took down power lines, trees, and killing seven people in Ontario. Meanwhile, I was in a plane circling Toronto at 14 000 feet waiting for the storm to blow over to land. Customs was a "breeze" and I was likely the first one out the exit with my carry on, spotting Doug immediately. With jet lag not an issue, we went to a fabulous jazz bar for dinner, seated right up front. It was extraordinary. Alison Young, a saxophonist was awesome. The cold weather didn't hold us back Sunday for a long 2.5-hour walk to The Beaches waterfront.
May 26 -- Toronto to Houston
I spent another curious back-room customs visit yesterday being pulled into further interrogation by the USA Customs while checking into my flight to Texas. I'm not sure what they don't like on my passport, but this is the second time. Satisfied, they allowed me to carry on, and I bought myself a Tim Horton's (Canadian) double cream coffee to await my flight to Houston. Courtney and a surprised Hailey picked me up at the other end. She had no idea I was coming. She'll lose her mind when she sees Auntie Lindsey and her cousins when they arrive tonight! Meanwhile, Geert and Con have nearly finished putting together the log-cabin styled studiod.
DOUBLE CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE
I spent another curious back-room customs visit yesterday being pulled into further interrogation by the USA Customs while checking into my flight to Texas. I'm not sure what they don't like on my passport, but this is the second time. Satisfied, they allowed me to carry on, and I bought myself a Tim Horton's (Canadian) double cream coffee to await my flight to Houston. Courtney and a surprised Hailey picked me up at the other end. She had no idea I was coming. She'll lose her mind when she sees Auntie Lindsey and her cousins when they arrive tonight! Meanwhile, Geert and Con have nearly finished putting together the log-cabin styled studiod.
DOUBLE CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE
May 29 -- Hailey and I were chatting outside when her mom arrived home from a "work deal" which actually was a trip to Houston to collect Lindsey, Kate, and Amy from the airport. "Surprised" was an understatement when they all piled out of the jeep. It took about ten minutes and we were all splashing in the pool.
June 1-- My dad would have been 97 today.
Yesterday, Lindsey, Kate and Amy checked in to their flight to Calgary only to be told at the gate that the flight was canceled. She rented a car and returned to Conroe for one more "bonus" day together. Amy, 5 suffers with a disease affecting her lungs and with the complication of allergies to Courtney's two dogs, and a cold, she landed in the Urgent Care Hospital receiving special medication to open her lungs. Tonight, they will try again to fly back to Alberta. Meanwhile, Kate is having a blast being included in Hailey and her friend's activities.
Con has finished the wooden studio and is enjoying games of padel tennis. Friday, I leave for Toronto overnight and Saturday back to Lisbon. Its been an awesome trip for everyone.
Yesterday, Lindsey, Kate and Amy checked in to their flight to Calgary only to be told at the gate that the flight was canceled. She rented a car and returned to Conroe for one more "bonus" day together. Amy, 5 suffers with a disease affecting her lungs and with the complication of allergies to Courtney's two dogs, and a cold, she landed in the Urgent Care Hospital receiving special medication to open her lungs. Tonight, they will try again to fly back to Alberta. Meanwhile, Kate is having a blast being included in Hailey and her friend's activities.
Con has finished the wooden studio and is enjoying games of padel tennis. Friday, I leave for Toronto overnight and Saturday back to Lisbon. Its been an awesome trip for everyone.
June 4 -- Flying Houston to Toronto was a quick no-fuss United flight just shy of three hours. I pulled my carry-on with ease to the airport train, two stops later exited the airport into the Alt Hotel for the night. Check out was 11 am, and my TAP flight didn't depart until 18:50. It was a long wait in two different Airlines lounges, but I'm easily entertained. Arriving into Lisbon as dawn was breaking was a reminder that I'd returned to paradise. A quick taxi to the Oriente Station for a 16 euro train ticket, I could almost taste home and feel Con's welcoming hug. Sure enough, a short while later, I lifted my carry-on off the train at Estombar and was enveloped in his arms. It was a great feeling for my soul, still full from the time with family and being home.
July -- Above, two new additions to our family, a Hoopoo stained glass bird, made by yours truly, and a new mixmaster. I've been wanting to buy one since leaving ours in Canada 15 years ago.
By far, I'm eating the best bruschetti in the Algarve. Con enjoyed most of his wine, before it landed on his pants.
By far, I'm eating the best bruschetti in the Algarve. Con enjoyed most of his wine, before it landed on his pants.
Nick and Dex Arrived
Dex wanted to cliff jump, and we found the perfect spot just around the corner in Carvoeiro. It was 39.5 degree weather, if feels like we're living inside a hair dryer.
Dex wanted to cliff jump, and we found the perfect spot just around the corner in Carvoeiro. It was 39.5 degree weather, if feels like we're living inside a hair dryer.
August 15 -- We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary yesterday trying a new restaurant. We both indulged in a typical English Sunday dinner, roast lamb with Yorkshire pudding.
Con returned from five days in the Netherlands, staying with Geert and Loes. He loaded up a plastic container with stained glass and other items to feed my hobby.
Con returned from five days in the Netherlands, staying with Geert and Loes. He loaded up a plastic container with stained glass and other items to feed my hobby.
August -- Silves, is fifteen minutes by car from our house is the beautiful and historic town, once the ancient capital of the Algarve. You know you're there as you round the corner and see the enormous red-brick castle on your left. Cross the Arade River bridge and you step back in history to about the 12th century. We visited on the last day of the Silves Fatacil (festival) where they celebrate the Roman and Moorish era's with a medieval flavour. Silves was an important trading centre where ships would arrive from North Africa down the river during the Moorish era. The Moors once ruled the entire Algarve region. Their architecture catches your eye at every turn. Walking up the town's cobblestone street to reach Castelo de Silves with the heavy fortified gateway passing the Gothic Se cathedral built on the site of a Moorish Mosque damaged in the 1755 earthquake.
August 24 -- Portugal is struggling under some of it's worst drought conditions, registered as "extreme drought" along with other western European countries. For Portugal, it's complicated by the additional tourists arriving and higher water consumption. Knowing rain won't be arriving for a few months, Con revamped and renamed our "Secret Patio" the "Succulent Patio". We called it the secret patio since it can only be accessed from within the house by two large wall-length window doors. Now with the succulent plants able to hold water longer and won't require daily watering.
September 7 -- Grandson Dex turned 13 today!
Just before midnight last night, I zipped to the Faro Airport to collect Con who was returning from a few days in The Netherlands.
Below is my new stained glass art work. It hangs at our front door. Our house is named Casa Ceu Grande, Big Sky.
Just before midnight last night, I zipped to the Faro Airport to collect Con who was returning from a few days in The Netherlands.
Below is my new stained glass art work. It hangs at our front door. Our house is named Casa Ceu Grande, Big Sky.
September 13 -- A few days ago, I arrived in Texas, Courtney and Hailey collected me from the Houston Airport. The next morning, the three of us set off for Hailey's Volleyball Tournament, a 13-hour marathon.
Courtney and I went for a walk at the end of the day. It's hot and humid here. Courtney said, "Oh, I love how cool it is now." Ha ha. When walking, I stay on the sidewalk, all the while watching for Moccasin, or Copperhead snakes, or for another Black Widow, like the one we spotted by the pool two days ago. We did encounter many dragon flies. They are beautiful.
On the 11th, we called Kate in Red Deer to send her lots of love on her 8th birthday. Friday, I will arrive in Alberta for a week with Lindsey and family.
Courtney and I went for a walk at the end of the day. It's hot and humid here. Courtney said, "Oh, I love how cool it is now." Ha ha. When walking, I stay on the sidewalk, all the while watching for Moccasin, or Copperhead snakes, or for another Black Widow, like the one we spotted by the pool two days ago. We did encounter many dragon flies. They are beautiful.
On the 11th, we called Kate in Red Deer to send her lots of love on her 8th birthday. Friday, I will arrive in Alberta for a week with Lindsey and family.
October 2 -- Saturday morning we set off on a mini road trip, pointing our car east toward the natural Portugal and Spain border, the Guardiana River. The beautiful International Guardiana Bridge leaves Portugal at Castro Marim and connects to Spain in the bustling Spanish town of Ayamonte. The weather was near perfect, no it was perfect, 26 degrees. It's September; fly season! We stopped at an outdoor tapas restaurant and competed with the flies for our meal. Ordering the familiar Padron Peppers, a dish we devoured in northern Spain a few years ago, but this one nearly had us calling the fire department. Con took one bite and I watched as his mouth pulsated with heat. That was the only pepper eaten. The flies even knew better than to touch them. We left Ayamonte mid afternoon meandering north along the Guardiana crossed the river back to Portugal and stayed in Mertola for the night. The town is in a strategic location along the river and you can imagine, it's been inhabited by every power group since the Iron Age. Most notably is the 11th century Crusader's castle built over top of the then Islamic castle.
In Olhão Con ordered cockles (I'm seriously allergic to them) and we finished the meals with twice as much ice cream than we needed.
October 29 -- A few days ago, Con attended a talk given by the club sponsor and won the big prize, an expensive ladies padel raquet!
We participated in a tournament Saturday in Portimao and won 3rd place for Best Costume. Despite not placing well in the tournament, we played well. Most players are 30-50 years younger!
We participated in a tournament Saturday in Portimao and won 3rd place for Best Costume. Despite not placing well in the tournament, we played well. Most players are 30-50 years younger!
November 14 -- FAMILY REUNION here we come.
Our four daughters, husbands, and grandkids are gathering in Red Deer for our first family reunion, a 20-year dream of mine that is coming together so easily. Twenty years ago, I envisioned a family reunion in a sunny location with my parents, and our four daughters. Today, 16 family members are coming together in cold- weather Alberta where we've rented a big house near Lindsey. Con and I are about to board our first flight: Lisbon to Schipol.
Our four daughters, husbands, and grandkids are gathering in Red Deer for our first family reunion, a 20-year dream of mine that is coming together so easily. Twenty years ago, I envisioned a family reunion in a sunny location with my parents, and our four daughters. Today, 16 family members are coming together in cold- weather Alberta where we've rented a big house near Lindsey. Con and I are about to board our first flight: Lisbon to Schipol.
November 26 -- Last weekend was a dream come true, when 14 family members came together celebrating family in Red Deer. Brit, Kris, Nolan, and Torri arrived from Saskatchewan; Hailey and Courtney arrived from Texas; Nick, Dex, and Ashley from Calgary. Missing: Mike from Texas and Bryant from Calgary.
Six-year-old Amy had to go to the emergency trauma when her trachea was compromised by her cold. She's now on the mend.
Six-year-old Amy had to go to the emergency trauma when her trachea was compromised by her cold. She's now on the mend.
November 30 -- Happy 6th birthday to grand daughter Amy
We arrived on Vancouver Island just before a big snow storm blew over the island leaving some places without power, stopping ferries, and grounding planes. We checked into the Inn on the Lake in Nanaimo and went to Shirlee and Mark's for dinner. Nadina and Mark flew into town from Calgary so we could have a good friend catch up. The next day, we slid along the highway in thick falling snow to Ed and Fern's for lunch. That night, through a near white out we made our way to Elserine and Hugo's. By morning, snow was melting quickly and we set off on a crispy beachcombing walk along the ocean. A Pileated Woodpecker was so involved pecking for insects that he didn't mind our intrusion. He is the largest woodpecker in the world. We passed some of the largest and gnarliest Arbutus trees you can imagine. We stopped at my brother Jim and wife Cindy's place, catching up. Nephew Justin, currently living there, joined us.
We arrived on Vancouver Island just before a big snow storm blew over the island leaving some places without power, stopping ferries, and grounding planes. We checked into the Inn on the Lake in Nanaimo and went to Shirlee and Mark's for dinner. Nadina and Mark flew into town from Calgary so we could have a good friend catch up. The next day, we slid along the highway in thick falling snow to Ed and Fern's for lunch. That night, through a near white out we made our way to Elserine and Hugo's. By morning, snow was melting quickly and we set off on a crispy beachcombing walk along the ocean. A Pileated Woodpecker was so involved pecking for insects that he didn't mind our intrusion. He is the largest woodpecker in the world. We passed some of the largest and gnarliest Arbutus trees you can imagine. We stopped at my brother Jim and wife Cindy's place, catching up. Nephew Justin, currently living there, joined us.
Our return flight to Portugal was filled with flight delays. For instance, our 20-minute flight from Victoria to Vancouver took nearly three hours. With 15 minutes to spare before our flight to Paris departed, a speedy-quick usher shuffled us via golf cart to the boarding gate.
Our family reunion in Red Deer was one of the highlights of the year.
Con left a few days later for The Netherlands to help Geert and Loes with the hands-on care for Albertine. Her recovery is slow and concerning.
I participated in a Padel vs Tennis tournament, followed by the FIFA Football game, Portugal vs Morocco. Morocco was victorious.
Our family reunion in Red Deer was one of the highlights of the year.
Con left a few days later for The Netherlands to help Geert and Loes with the hands-on care for Albertine. Her recovery is slow and concerning.
I participated in a Padel vs Tennis tournament, followed by the FIFA Football game, Portugal vs Morocco. Morocco was victorious.
December 19 -- My Birthday
Con booked us into the beautiful 19th Century Palace in Estoi owned by Pestana Hotel Spa chain, pictured above. After breakfast, I was spoiled with a two-hour spa treatment.
Con booked us into the beautiful 19th Century Palace in Estoi owned by Pestana Hotel Spa chain, pictured above. After breakfast, I was spoiled with a two-hour spa treatment.