Week 18 of our new life

Monday, wet and windy day again today, Mesteraposa came back to seal the outside of the windows first thing this morning, wasn't raining then, but by the time we called in to the house late afternoon all the sealing had come off due to the rain, now they will have to come back and do it when it is dry. We had to pop in to see them in the office as well as we gave them a cheque on Friday for another 40% but forgot to sign the cheque!!!  They have to come back to fit the front door and the fly screens when the work is finished anyway so will sort the sealant out then.  Off for lunch in Vilamoura, we met up with Douglas's pal from Gilvenbank Colin Nicolic and his wife June, had a good laugh over a three hour lunch, Douglas might even play a round of golf next week with him, and hopefully we can meet up for dinner later on this week as well. Called in to the house on the way back, another couple of problems have surfaced, we have a leak in the roof in the living room and also a leak in the chimney of the fireplace.  Now need to think what to do about that, tiling and sealing the sun terrace will be an answer to the leak in Living Room, need to take advice on the Chimney as we will be using that for the wood burner in the winter.  David could not get the extension plastered due to the rain, as he had not had time to finish it before the rains came it is soaking so will need to dry out before he can get it done, they are putting in the electrics etc while they have the chance.  Made the final decision on where the lights are going in the kitchen, and we need to go and buy lights for under the cupboards in the kitchen, forgot about them!!!  feeling a bit disheartened after that, 11 days to go, no chance!!
Tuesday, cool and cloudy today, early start, first stop to see about television, music system etc, want a smart TV, possibly blue ray home cinema system, discussed our requirements a package can be made to suit, Alistair will get back to us today.  Next stop Olhao to see Valentyna and James regarding alterations to our curtains, it is possible to alter the curtains that we brought with us, thank god for that they were so expensive to be made in the UK that I am so pleased to be able to get the use of them out here, chose curtain tracks and they are coming to the house on Thursday morning to measure up and we will take it from there.  Time for lunch found a nice little cafe and had a Bifana, phone call from Alistair can we pop in to see him on the way back regarding a proposed TV package, will do that about 4 as want to look around shops for bits and pieces while we are in Olhao.  Didn't find anything in the shops, headed back to Almancil, TV package is good but maybe somewhat expensive, we would get plenty out of it plus it includes a new satellite dish, camera for Skype, installation and a years subscription to all the Sky Channels, have made an appointment for him to come to the house on Thursday morning as well to check out size of Dish we would need and if the TV will go on the wall that we want it to go on.  Ross from FJ North is also coming to the house on Thursday to look at the Sun Terrace for the Pool table, Thursday is going to be a busy day.  Finally got back to the house, David is plastering the walls that are dry in the extension, Ashley was busy knocking out the rest of the wall and Adrian was getting on with tiling the 3rd bathroom.  Had a discussion on toilet seats, I have seen the ones that I want, Silent Closing and Black, Adrian has already got one white one that is not silent closing, can we change them, not sure as he does not know if they will fit, he will go back to where he got it and ask the question!!

Ashley demolishing Wall

Wednesday, cool but dry today, but the rain came back at tea time, not been a good week weather-wise at all, but the garden and all my cuttings are thriving. Had to go to Guia today to chase up our bathroom sink, it was ordered god knows how long ago and is still not in, we have been assured that it will be in the shop on the 10th October, hallelujah.  Bought some lights for underneath the kitchen cupboards, really nice lights and they were on special offer, just what Douglas likes only to get back and Adrian said they are the wrong type and cannot be fitted underneath the cupboards, great now have to go all the way back to change them.  3rd Bathroom is coming on, floor is tiled and inside shower is tiled, Adrian was in the process of starting to fit the Shower Screen, David is still busy plastering the Extension, the wall has not dried out yet plus it has rained again so that will be another hold up.  Ashley is still demolishing the wall, I feel that somebody will get a brick in the back of the head, the way they are working just now.  It is coming together but seems to me to be all over the place, but then I am not a builder and I think the weather is dictating what they can get on with at the moment.  Managed to get the washing done today, but was still a bit damp with the humidity here so having a problem trying to make sure it is dry, and no space where we are living just now does not help.  Feeling a bit frustrated but hanging in there, wont be long now!!!  Need to go and buy an iron as mine is in storage, and no iron where we are staying just now either so Grrrr.

3rd Bathroom

Thursday, sun is out today and it is warmer again, got the washing hung out to dry from yesterday. First appointment today with Valentyna and James about the curtains, result with alterations all of the curtains are going to fit all of the windows, have chosen Black and Chrome tracks with pull cords, also going to get quote for blinds for the kitchen windows, quote should arrive in my inbox tomorrow. Two and a half hours later, next appointment, Ross from FJ North regarding Pool table on the sun terrace, yes that it also possible although we would probably have to get someone with a scissor lift to get it up there, again we have chosen a black exterior table with Red cloth, quote will go to Douglas's email for that over next couple of days, you can see who has the best priorities.  Finally time to go for a bit of lunch before next appointment at 2 o clock.  This one is for the TV,  we have decided to go for a 42" Panasonic Smart TV, Skype camera, Blue Ray Player. new Sattelite dish and a years subscription to Sky TV which includes all the sky channels (Movies, Sports etc) they will also cable in for our Portable TV and install both TVs onto the walls.  The portable we have decided will go into Bedroom 3 as that will mainly be used for the grandchildren, if they want to watch TV.  Douglas thinks we will argue over me wanting to Skype and him wanting to watch Sport???  Adrian has another job to do now as he needs to channel in for all the cables and also build a Black Granite double tier shelf into the wall to hold the Router, Phone, Sky Box and Blue Ray Player, just as well he hasn't started on the living room yet!!!   Finally 2 hours later it was of to Loule for me to buy an iron and also to go to the Parcel Office.  I finally tracked my parcel that I sent to myself when I was at my dads 3 weeks ago, amazingly it has been in Portugal since 17th September, sadly it was returned to my Dads last night as the parcel office here does not deliver to Post Office boxes.  Devastated is not the word, it cost me £50.00 to post it, waited for 3 weeks for it to arrive, only to chase it up to find it has been returned to Devon, bloody ridiculous.  Why the Post Office could not tell me that they did not deliver to PO boxes I don't know, now I need to wait a week for it to arrive back at my Dads, then it will be another week before my sister can pick it up from him, then another week at least before I can organise for a Courier to get it from her, that will be 7 weeks if not 8 weeks before I see my goodies, plus the extra cost, frustrated is not the word!!!  Having been to the house today, there is no way it is going to be ready for the 12th October, we are looking at least the end of October, so this has probably been the worst week for me since we have been here, just feeling very frustrated with it all, living out of a couple of suitcases for this length of time is becoming anything but fun.  But, chin up we are finally coming to the end, so just need to hang in there.  My plants are doing very well though, the Ginger has shot up and my Jacaranda Seed has sprouted, also a Preying Mantis has taken a shine to my large Geranium, LOL.  Having been to Loule to buy the iron, we popped in to see Mick and Pauline, they have been getting the outside of their house painted, and have had delays this week because of the rain too, so we all decided to have a couple of drinks and go out for Piri Piri Chicken, just what the Doctor ordered, a drink, a laugh and some good food.  Feeling better already.

Preying Mantis

Ginger

Jacaranda Sprouting

Friday, good to wake up to blue skies and sunshine after a week of cloud and rain, got two more loads of washing done and then all the housework, getting ready for Katie and the Kids coming.  Not used to Douglas helping with housework, he done the hoovering today and helped hang the washing out.  By the time we finished it was time to think about going out for some lunch.  Went to Almancil for lunch, then off to Continente for shopping, not getting a lot as we will eat out when Katie is here, as we do not have much room for 5 of us where we are staying, so just bought things for Breakfasts and snacks.  Then it was off to Sao Bras, Douglas needed to top up his phone, seems to go through a lot of credit and he phones nobody, but does use the internet quite a bit so think that is what it is eating his credit, probably worth his while to get a contract phone.  He will look into it, Douglas has found it even easier to slip in the ways of Manyana, which means everything does get done eventually, not much difference there then!!  Adrian needed to see us about a couple of things, so made it back to the house by 6.00pm.  David is still working on the extension, Adrian is still working on the 3rd Bathroom so not a lot of difference for the end of the week.  The kitchen is going to be bigger than we thought though, even with a column in it, it was a good decision to build out to the front rather than to the side as it will make a big difference.  Jwow was in to do the pool today and the lads were doing the garden, looking good.  Got the quote for the alterations to the curtains plus the new tracks and tie back hooks, think it is reasonable, just waiting on Douglas to decide!!
Saturday, another hot sunny day and another early start.  Off to Portimao today to attend an exhibition on Better Living in Portugal, quite interesting with lots of different stands (a bit like Ideal Home) although not on such a large scale, craft stands were very good and very handy with 3 birthdays coming up this month.  We joined AFPOP which is an organisation for property owners in Portugal, gives you lots of information regarding laws and legal things, social activities and also trips etc, very handy and a nominal joining fee so thought we would try it for a year.  We also got some good information on Mobile Phone Tarriffs, particularly for me as I still use the UK mobile number, killing me with the bills every month and as Douglas keeps reminding me, I am not working anymore!!!  I keep telling him that once we have a home to live in, and have Skype, WiFi etc my bills will be minimal!!!  Not sure who is believing who??  Also spoke to someone regarding blinds for the kitchen, so another email to do with more information after another visit to a website.  After this we decided to go on to Alvor, we have been before and thought we would discover more, it was such a lovely afternoon nothing to hurry for, we ambled through craft shops and gift shops, stopped for a drink and a late lunch, then walked around the harbour finally heading back about 7.00pm.  We then realised that we had Pool toys etc to blow up ready for Katie, Danielle and Carly arriving tomorrow, I managed one ball, Douglas had two Lilos, a Float and Armbands to do and luckily the blow up bed has its own pump.  No sleep for me tonight as I will worry until they arrive at Faro Airport, they have a 7.00am flight so will need to be up early, and this will be such an achievement for Katie to do this on her own, she is very nervous also but all will be well, unless of course they all end up in New York!!!

Digger at work on our Road

Portimao Arena

Alvor Harbour

Sunday, another lovely day, and with it the arrival of Katie, Danielle and Carly, so good to see them all. What shall we do today, well Danielle and Carly had the answer, all they wanted to do was swim in the pool. We got them settled in, it will be slightly cramped but we can manage for four days, then we took them to see our house, so they decided they wanted to swim in our pool, no problem we took the lilos, floats and balls, made up a picnic and used our pool and terrace, it was so warm 5 hours had passed and Danielle and Carly had a great time in the pool, Katie chilled out beside the pool and Douglas and I chilled out on the terrace.  We had a BBQ later and they were all in bed for 9.30pm sleeping soundly.  Thats what I call a good result plus they have the advantage of getting a good colour as well.  It has been a good week in as far as we have got a few more things sorted out for our house, not so good that we are not going to be in our house for next week and will now possibly be looking at the end of October, well another 3 weeks I am just going to have to hold myself together, lack of clothes, personal items and just having a place to call my own is beginning to get to me.  One other piece of news to cheer me up, our youngest son Danny has proposed to Lesa in Paris and have set a wedding date for July 2015, the question I now ponder on is will we be having a wedding in The Algarve?? I somehow think the answer might be Yes!!!!