“Did you know that I was almost arrested for harassment?” Paul asks with a mischievous look in his eyes. “Oh,” I almost recoile but laughing, “do I have to worry now, lock my door at night?” He dismisses my remark, clearly looking forward to the story: “It was when I lived in Nijmegen (Holland), and […]
Jogging volunteers and other pleasant things Read More »
“Forensic” is a bit of a mysterious word for me. It is probably because it’s full of forensic teams as soon as a crime has to be solved … in the thrillers that I like to read from time to time. Forensic studies is a broad concept. Luckily. The mystery doesn’t reveal itself quickly. Why
Forensic students in the house! Read More »
If I were a cook, I would probably be the thinnest cook in the world. After a whole week of cooking, I am full of food smells. It already starts in the morning after breakfast, because the group wants to have a warm lunch. Following the good Portuguese example. It’s Friday now, the last day
Tai Chi Chuan has landed in Portugal Read More »
It doesn’t often happen that I think on Friday: “Oh dear, the blog, what should the blog be about?” – but that is the case this week. Usually the subject presents itself. Matter of writing it down. This time I couldn’t figure it out. Everything blank. Maybe it’s because there are a lot of things
Portuguese nature, part 1: chicory Read More »
We drive through small villages, all known territory. The road to Coimbra has been driven so often, but not so often at night. Between the small villages it’s pitch dark. The crescent moon is very small, it hardly gives any light. All houses are dark. Shutters closed That is not much different than during
Portuguese culture, part 1: the shutters Read More »
I always read. In the evening before going to bed, to dive into a fantasy world already, before the dreaming starts. In the morning, to start the day calmly, and to shake off the imaginary world of your dreams. I read everything, as long as it fascinates. The last book fascinated from page 1. How
Nice read: Portugal! Portugal! Portugal! Read More »
Some guests are having such a good time that I spontaneously shout things like: “Oh, and I love you for it!” It was not a shout by itself. That was the answer to: “We couldn’t get ourselves to go. So we stayed.” The fairy laughs: “It’s all the time: one more day. Let’s do one
A fairy as inspiration for a new mosaic Read More »
It’s well arranged here, with maternity leave and so on. All other European countries could follow the portuguese example! Mother was allowed to stop working at 4 months. After the child is born, they both stay at home – father for a month, mother for 5 months. How do I know that? Why would I
The Portuguese take good care of their children Read More »
The engineer beckons us to come in. That’s not too bad, it goes smoother than we thought. “We” in this case is my neighbour Josué and I. (Josué is not really my neighbour, but the farmer who works the adjacent fields. When they’re done working, they often stop by for a cold beer, because working
The Mother of the water and a misunderstanding Read More »
Not only do you have two volunteers, you also get half the Dutch royal family, a Belgian high brow, a clone from Arnold Schwarzenegger and a drag queen. Not surprising, because Ylva does a theater study in Gent, and Roos is a good tempered and smart girl, interested in everything. Within a day we’re not
Mosaic-making queens Read More »
