Week 23 of our new life

Monday, the last day of Douglas's birthday weekend, and he has got a full day of golf and I get to go out shopping on my own, YESSSSSS!!! Douglas had a great day playing golf at Pinta which is near Silves, it is quite possible he has won the guest prize today, which would be a years free membership.  I treated myself to..................... A Mop, 2 bundles of Wire Wool, some Cleaning fluid for the fireplace and a ....Log Basket, plus added in lunch to make it a bit more exciting, I even looked at rugs today but at 25,000 euros decided against a rug (they were persian/cashmere), did have a voucher with 25% discount but still didnt think Douglas would be impressed.  Did see some nice saucepans but will go back and get them this week.  Managed to get back to the house before dark and wow, Ze the labourer was on site and my god the whole site was clean, and some exterior painting had been done, and the Granite had been fitted to the kitchen, so at the end of a good weekend this was the icing on the cake.  Long may it continue, we are moving in 5 days from now so collywobbles are beginning to surface and we are going to be busy for the next couple of weeks.
Tuesday, well forget what I said yesterday, we will not be moving into our house this weekend.  Work is just not finished enough for us to move in so we have decided to wait another fortnight.  Very disappointing and Douglas is like a bear with a sore head today.  The Granite has been delivered and fitted to the kitchen but there is so much mess around it that you cannot appreciate it at the moment.  We have signed up today for the security system, again that will join the queue of things waiting to be installed.  Nuno was supposed to come and see us today regarding the broadband etc but he sent a text to say he couldn't make it, he will get in touch when he can, if he cannot make it by the end of this week then that will be business he has lost. David and Joao have started on the pool extension, digging out for the columns to go in.  Off to quiz night tonight so should have a bit of light hearted fun. Sylvie the snail also visited us this morning but then rapidly disappeared!!  I did buy a new saucepan set today and got 50% off, thank goodness for that or I would still have no saucepans.

Sylvie the Snail

More bushes cut back

Prep work for Pool Extension

Wednesday, hoping today will be a better day.  Am going to work in our house today trying to clean up the fire and fireplace, we have a really good wood burner and rather than take it out and replace it, I have decided to attack it with a couple of good wire brushes and clean it thoroughly and then we can blacken it to make it look like new.  Spent 4 hours on it and must admit it looks rather good now, so pleased that I decided to do it.  Waiting on the chimney sweep to come and do the chimney and flue, hopefully then I can light it and test it.  Adrian is working on repositioning the boiler, which so far has taken 2 days and the work pace is very frustrating.  David and Joao have put in the metal rods for 3 of the pillars for the pool extension and I think the cement will be going in today as well.  Luis arrived to fit the satellite dish and also give us the correct measurements for the shelves in the Living room which will go underneath the TV, When that will be done is left to the imagination.  I managed to do a bit of sweeping as well so things are kept a bit tidier now.   The quiz night last night was good fun, and our team won so that made it even better, also on the raffle we won a Lasagne Dish and 6 bottles of Beer so we were both happy.  The quiz nights are held once a month and it is a good chance to catch up with everybody.  Thinking towards the weekend and perhaps giving the gates their second coat of paint, Douglas is thinking that it is not a job he wants to do again!!!  Managed to get hold of the removal company and the curtain people and cancel them for this weekend, have rebooked for the 23rd November. (We shall see). We have also had the door fixed where we are staying, the one that had the mosquito netting that Douglas ricocheted off (previous blogs), thank god that is done something less to worry about.

Columns going in

Thursday, this has been a quick week this week and the weather is still doing well although getting a bit cooler at night.   Got all the washing done today, dried and put away within 3 hours, amazing for November.  Picked up my Contact lenses after the third time of trying, seemingly they have 3 hours for lunch!! also collected 10 of our paving slabs in the car - only another 20 to collect.  World Telecom were supposed to come again today but could not make it, they have tomorrow or else!! ridiculous to think that they dont want to bother for our business, makes me think what would happen if something went wrong, they would not be reliable enough to come out, we have looked at other options for Broadband so will just wait and see.  Met Jan and Louise in Almancil so had a natter with them.  Adrian is still repositioning the boiler, David and Jaoa are moving on well with the pool extension.
Friday, early appointment for my Nails today, while I was chilling Douglas was going to the bank and then collecting another 10 paving slabs, only 10 more to go.  I did have to help him unload the car so I needed to put on my industrial work wear gloves, cannot ruin my nails can I !!  Then it was out and about to try and find someone to sort out our exterior blinds, as Carlos has not come back to us yet.  Found a Company in Patacao and Manuel will contact us, also found another one near Estrada Nacionale they will call us on Monday to come to the house and measure up, best out of 3 quotes this way.  World Telecom have made another appointment for Monday afternoon, we shall see if they cancel this time, if so then we will revisit other companies. Douglas is still trying to sort out his pool table and we have another appointment to go see one on Wednesday, have to remind him that the time it is taking Adrian to do anything there may be no point in buying one just now as we will have to pay for storage LOL. Went for lunch and food shopping and then back to the house in time for the guys clocking off for the weekend.  David and Joao have knocked down
the wall ready for the pool terrace and the 3 new pillars are drying nicely, amazing how much they have done in 4 days.  Adrian has put some kitchen cupboard doors on and he had Ze the labourer helping today so some walls have been cemented ready for painting, everything is so back to front that I am not sure what is ready and what is not, but again there is not one room complete as yet.  What have we got another 2 weeks!!

Once upon a time there was a wall!!

Saturday, we had our own little party last night so Douglas is the worse for wear today.  Went to pick up the last of our slabs so they are now neatly piled up in the drive ready and waiting to be laid.  Then decided to have the rest of the day as a lazy day, so packed a picnic and went to our house. Had a good look around at the work that has been done this week and then sunbathed by the pool, had a good four hours in the sun and then packed up and came back.  The weather has been really good and the forecast for the next week is also very good, still wearing shorts, TShirts and flip flops so cannot complain, just as well as most of our clothes are in storage so could cause a problem if the weather turns, hopefully it will last the next couple of weeks.  Booked our Portuguese lessons so start them on Thursday in the Beginners class, should be fun although Douglas not too keen, we will see how long he lasts.

Just a pile of slabs

New Boiler House

Slow rise of the Kitchen

Other side of the Kitchen!!

Foundations for Pool Terrace

Sunday, off to Estoi market this morning and then to Vilamoura in the afternoon.  Douglas wanted to go and see a pool table but it was too small, was a lovely afternoon had a nice lunch and also visited Pao Pao which evidently has the best chocolate cake in the world, will let you know as we have a bit in the fridge for later on. Getting dark by six o clock and you can feel the temperature drop in the evening, but all in all weather is staying good and this has not been too bad a week.  Laughter Lines for this week:
We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads.  So I am not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold any more so it started filling up the rest of me.  That's my story and I am sticking to it.