When I turned 50, I thought it was time for a tea cozy. Fifty is a great age to introduce something like this into your household – the symbol of domestic swagger. Apparently others thought so too, because I got it for my birthday – with a lot of comment as well. He’s gone to […]
What’s missing? A portuguese apron! Read More »
Honestly – no idea. A lot of hassle with eggs, an Easter bunny, ditto branches, lots of chocolate, and for the faithful among us betrayal, crucifixion, sad mother Mary and more of that misery. Anyway: Happy Easter! But if you want to know what I really stand for, and what we stand for, click the
What’s happening with Easter? Read More »
All of a sudden I sit here as an informal caregiver for a pirate chicken on one leg! Strange things sometimes happen in Termas-da-Azenha. My son Broes and I walked to “the little houses” (next to the ElephantHouse is a refurbishment that serves as storage for anything and everything) to get something, when unexpectedly we
Surprise! Pet chicken fall from the sky 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 »
Nobody knows how many times it has been. We’ve all lost count in all those years that we’ve been living here in Termas-da-Azenha. And it’s all caused by fear. O yeah? What’s up? Fear of flying, that is what’s up My brother doesn’t like to fly. Many more people have that (maybe they’ll save our
Family visit and golden rain Read More »
Meanwhile, everyone is back to everyday life, with a vague memory of the holiday. Life gobbles you up, and drags you on. This also happens here, but there is space here literally and figuratively to look back, to be equally nostalgic. It’s still dripping guests Two French brothers with a very small dog; a big
Porthola! There’s our Portuguese teacher from 20 years ago Read More »
I can’t help it. No really. Seriously. It just goes like that It starts with an innocent mosaic somewhere on a wall. And I didn’t even make it myself, it was a wonderful initiative from the “Family Preto”. Well done. Useful too. Everyone can see how it’s called here. In the winter it gets
Completely out of hand Read More »
The beach coaching50plus women are on the app. They’re enthusiastic and young (at least in my 56+ eyes). They want to talk about when we’re going to do the massages, the hours of the meals, what we’re going to eat, the best time for the mosaic workshop. Arranging the details. They have wishes. They have
Beach coaching for women Read More »
“No, you do not do anything at all! We’re going to do it the traditional way” I say cheerfully because my maintenance problem is solved – anyway in theory, “You’re there to supervise, I’m there to lend a hand, Kors is there to look at it and to comment. and Broes does the job.” We both
The art of watching Read More »
I sat here 20 years ago, on top of the stairs that lead to the bathhouse. Weird coincidence. It was the end of October, on a lovely sunny day. I was not used to that, in October – being dutch, and used to the Big Gray luring around the corner around this time of year,
Hunting for a house in Portugal Read More »
