Meeting People

Saturday night we went to a new bar that was being opened by an English fellow called Charlie. We only knew a few people and they introduced us to other folk. Everyone agrees that it is quite hard for English people to earn money in this country, especially if you do not speak Portugese. It's extremely useful networking with other expats as they are usually trying to eke a living by some means or another that you may want to make use of one day. For instance, Kathy runs a book exchange, her husband is a builder, and another gentleman is where we buy our Linda McCartney sausages from the car boot sale. He also has a shop that you can visit at certain times of the week.

We do intend to try and integrate with the Portugese people as time goes by, and our Portugese actually improves. Though Jon did utter his first word to our Portugese goatherd neighbours, ie "cabras" (goats). First a couple of goats found their way into our garden and snaffled a few broccoli and cabbage plants that were just recovering from the previous onslaught, and then the whole herd managed to find its way onto the goatherd's vegetable crops. Honestly, we didn't lead them there, they just made a beeline!

Anyway, Jon tromped down the track to the house and indicated the cabras were munching. At this point there was half an hour of stick waving at goats and shouting.

Today, being a Bank Holiday Monday, we have had a spot of rain. The rain fizzled out around 0930 hours, and it is overcast now with sunny intervals. It's very warm still, though that could just be due to the fact we have had a cookathon. We have baked bread using wholemeal flour from the mill down the track, we have also made vegetarian cranberry and brie tart, and a tomato tart with pesto and parmesan.

For dinner Jon rustled up a meal he saw on "Daily Cook Challenge" of goat's cheese baked with a bread crust, sprinkled with sesame seeds and we ate it with cooked beetroot and salad. Delicious...